
At Special District Strategies, we are committed to bringing special districts together through networking and empowering them with resources and information to navigate our unique governance space.
The Special Districts Download is an affordable and accessible platform for special district leaders - the most of whom run their operations on tight, lean budgets. Many are volunteers. The Download is aimed to be a digestable resource for all district stakeholders - from a tiny district's manager tasked with emergency waterline repair before staffing their evening board meeting to a large district's government affairs manager alike.
Subscribers of the Download understand the policy trends that could impact their essential services. Subscribers receive Special District Strategies' flagship biweekly newsletter plus a range of opportunities for grassroots engagement and governance perspectives. Check out what is included in the Special Districts Download advocacy subscription below.
We hang our hats on reviews referring to the Download as the “Punchbowl News for Special Districts.” Check out a new and easy way for special districts across the country to get news for the districts' perspective, networking, and advocacy resources.
All subscriptions begin with a 31-day trial run with annual, semi-annual, and quarterly subscription options ranging from $50 to $17.50 per term. Check it out below:
Special Districts Download subscribers get the latest news on federal issues of importance for district leaders, a view on state policy trends for districts, and advocacy resources on select topics. Check out what Downloaders have been reading lately:
December 23, 2025 | Congress left Washington for Christmas without resolving major funding, health care, or Farm Bill priorities; however, we are able to dive into the Senate's FY26 Homeland Security funding bill draft. We dive into some mostly-positive provisions included in the bill for America's special districts.
December 8, 2025 | The House of Representatives took up S. 356 (Crapo), the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which can support special district services in heavily impacted Forest Service communities for mitigation activity, emergency response, firefighting, and more – even broadband expansion. Download subscribers received talking points and template advocacy letters for their use through SDS’ reporting and resources.
December 8, 2025 | Public agencies across the country are preparing to comply with a 2024 Department of Justice rule requiring local governments’ online/web content to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Special districts will need to comply by April 2027.
December 8, 2025 | Download subscribers get a bigger picture of view of special districts as local governments with “Districts Statistics." This is an ongoing series in an effort to not only tell our story, but also clarify the narratives around districts across the states. We dive into these statistics, connect the wonky dots, and put it all into interesting context. In this story, we put state and federal data together for a look at how more districts provide more services in predominately rural states than others.
November 24, 2025 | The Senate committee tasked with review of environmental policies began to address the complicated issue of PFAS disposal and liability exemptions for passive receivers – an issue that stands to impact as many as many as 14,000 special districts in some fashion. As Congress continues to review liability issues impacting special districts, Download subcribers are kept up-to-date and equipped with resources for PFAS liability advocacy.
our newsletter for a special purpose - delivered every other Monday.
Breaking news updates on priority matters, as warranted.
Federal policy tracking, action, and limited state legislative tracking.
(templates, talking points) on major advocacy issues that impact special districts across multiple service sectors. Opportunities to join grassroots advocacy coalitions on priority legislative and regulatory issues.
Your reputation is everything. Let us help you protect and enhance your brand's reputation with our proven reputation management strategies.
Our team of content marketing experts will help you create and distribute high-quality content that drives traffic to your website and positions you as a thought leader in your industry.
Up to 40% discount on SDS sponsored and coordinated events (virtual or in-person).
No-cost or reduced registration pricing (~10%) for SDS-coordinated events (online/in-person).
Members of the Missouri Special Districts Alliance (a professional service of SDS) will receive the newsletter as benefit of membership through December 31. Missouri Alliance members need not subscribe.
Members of the Arizona Special Districts Alliance receive a 48 percent discount on subscriptions as benefit to of state membership. Contact cole@karradvocacy.com for more information.
Professional membership organizations with an interest to leverage SDS Download content in their own communications or share access to Download content are encouraged to contact Cole Arreola-Karr, SDS Founder/Principal, at cole@karradvocacy.com.
The Special Districts Download was launched in February 2024 as a newsletter to inform district leaders on trending issues that stand to impact the delivery of essential services in their communities. Then, this happened under the Karr Advocacy Strategies umbrella as a free service, later transitioned into an informal exclusive service of organizations and districts with which SDS holds professional services agreements, and in September 2025 ultimately transitioned to a subscription service to sustain quality of service and broaden access to more district leader.
Special District Strategies, L.L.C., administers the newsletter's content, delivered via Constant Contact. Cole Arreola-Karr authors the Special District Download newsletter. Contact cole@karradvocacy.com for more information.

Subscribe to SDS' flagship newsletter to get the latest news, advocacy resources, and perspectives on federal issues and state policy trends for America's special district leaders.