Chapter 5. Finances of California Government Code >> Title 7.5. >> Chapter 5.

On or before December 30 of each calendar year the agency shall establish the amount of money necessary to support its activities for the next succeeding fiscal year commencing July 1 of the following year and transmit a request for that amount to the Legislature.

The agency may fix and collect fees for any services rendered by it.

The agency shall be strictly accountable to any county in the region for all funds paid by it to the agency and shall be strictly accountable to all participating bodies for all receipts and disbursements.

The agency is authorized to receive gifts, donations, subventions, grants, and other financial aids and funds.

If any provision of this title or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the title which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this title are severable.

For purposes of the annual budget process, the agency shall be provided a baseline adjustment equivalent to fund California's two-thirds share for any increase in employee compensation or cost-of-living adjustment, in the same manner as applied to state agencies. In those instances where the methodology for determining this adjustment differs from standard state budget practices, the agency and the Department of Finance shall work together on an agreed application of this section.