HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2003-248RESOLUTION NO. 2003-248
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE
TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE STATE
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX FUNDS
WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over $800 million in city property tax
funds (ERAF) statewide, costing cities over $6.9 billion in lost revenues over the past 12 years
and seriously reducing resources available for local public safety and other services; and
WHEREAS, in adopting the state budget this year the Legislature and Governor
appropriated local vehicle license fee backfill and redevelopment property tax funds that are
needed to finance critical city services such as public safety, parks, street maintenance, housing
and economic development; and
WHEREAS, the deficit financing plan in the state budget depends on a local property
and sales tax swap that leaves city services vulnerable if the state's economic condition fails to
improve; and
WHEREAS, the adopted state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget deficit of at
least $8 billion, putting city resources and services at risk in future years to additional state
revenue raids; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly clear that state leaders will continue to use local tax funds to
balance the state budget unless the voters limit the power of the Legislature and Governor to do
so; and
WHEREAS, the voters of California are the best judges of whether local tax funds should
be diverted, confiscated, shifted, or otherwise taken to finance an ever-expanding state
government; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Voting Delegates of the League of California
Cities, at its September 10, 2003 meeting, voted to sponsor a statewide ballot initiative to
empower the voters to limit the ability of state government to confiscate local tax funds to fund
state government; and
WHEREAS, the League has requested that cities offer support for a November 2004
ballot initiative that will allow voters to decide whether state government may appropriate local
tax funds to fund state government operations and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lodi that the
City hereby expresses its strong support for a statewide ballot initiative to allow voters to decide
whether local tax funds may be taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted, or otherwise used to fund
state government operations and responsibilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council and staff are authorized to provide
impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City's
representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative; and
BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER that the residents of the City of Lodi are encouraged to
become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts on the critical local services on
which they rely; and
RESOLVED FURTHER that the City Manager and/or City Clerk are hereby directed to
send a copy of subject Resolution to the Executive Director ot the League of California Cites.
Dated: December 17, 2003
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2003-248 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held December 17, 2003, by the following vote;
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Beckman, Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor
Hansen
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
SUSAN J. BLACKSTON
City Clerk
2003-248