FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE REDWOOD CITY - The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting to the County of San Mateo for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2014.

For Immediate Release        Belmont, CA – San Mateo County wants to raise awareness of the benefits and discounts available for veterans, and simplify access to them.  In issuing a standardized identification card, the Human Services Agency hopes to meet and assist the 33,000 veterans and their families residing in San Mateo County.

For immediate release Redwood City—Ever wonder about the County of San Mateo’s state of financial health? Have a soft spot for all the facts and figures that illustrate the County’s tax revenue, pension expenses, capital project expenses and other economic nuances?

Belmont, CA –  As preliminary results become available on the County’s Homeless Census, a significant decrease in homeless living on the streets and in the homeless population as a whole, is welcome news. Early numbers show a potential 47% reduction in the number of unsheltered individuals and families countywide, compared to 2013 counts, including zero families with children. Fewer sheltered homeless were found, as well.

Redwood City, CA – Over 8,000 individuals owing child support to San Mateo County residents have another convenient option to make their cash payments. Thanks to a collaboration between the State of California and Moneygram, those owing child support can now go to any of the thousands of locations nationwide to send payments.

The slowdown at the Port of Oakland is wreaking havoc on South Bay Recycling (SBR) in San Carlos, the contractor that provides recycling operations for the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA). The slowdown at the Port of Oakland is due to a labor dispute between Pacific Maritime Association and the longshoremen (ILWU) who have been working without a contract since July 1. The result is a pileup of containers on the docks, a flotilla of container ships anchored in San Francisco Bay and a warehousing issue for SBR.

Belmont, CA – In the early morning hours of January 22, 2015, San Mateo County will participate in the National Homeless One Day Count by conducting a tract-by-tract count of homeless individuals, families and encampments. 

After months and months of public meetings and community outreach, more than 2500 people commented on the traffic design features that they hoped the planned undergrounding and redesign project would bring to the downtown area of North Fair Oaks.

The Children’s Fund of San Mateo County needs help providing approximately 1,000 children with new backpacks and school supplies in time for the new school year. “Low-income and foster children need our help to ensure they start the school year prepared and ready to learn,” stated Children’s Fund Coordinator Rebecca Asch. “Every child should have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom and not be held back by circumstances over which they have no control.”