The Contra Costa Special Districts Association (CCSDA) beginnings date back to 1989, when Chuck Beesley, former General Manager of the Contra Costa Mosquito Abatement District, and Bob Berggren, General Manager of the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, began discussing the need for an organization of a local association of special districts.  There were four primary reasons that such an organization was needed. First, independent special districts throughout the state were fighting the general public’s mindset that local government was comprised only of cities and counties.  Second, it was common for newly formed redevelopment agencies to transfer property tax growth revenues away from special districts within their boundaries.  Third, few citizens recognized that special districts provided them with essential public services.  And, fourth, in Contra Costa County, the Board of Supervisors was unwilling to work with local special districts regarding the Special Districts Augmentation Fund (SDAF).  Local supervisors were refusing to pass money back to their source as most other counties were doing.