HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2008-157RESOLUTION NO. 2008-157
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
OPPOSING STATE BUDGET DECISIONSTHAT
WOULD "BORROW" LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2008, the State Legislature missed its Constitutional
budget deadline; and
WHEREAS, both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Conference
Committee have recommended balanced budgets without resorting to "loans" of local
government property tax and transportation sales tax funds; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 by an 84% margin of approval, the voters of California
approved Proposition 1 A and sent a loud and unambiguous message to state leaders
that they should stop the destructive practice of taking local government funds to finance
the state budget and paper over the state deficit; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 by a 77% margin of approval, the voters of California also
approved Proposition 1A, providing similar protections to transportation funding for state
and local transportation projects, including important street maintenance and public
transit programs; and
WHEREAS, both ballot measures allow the Governor to declare a "severe state
of fiscal hardship" and "barrow" these funds if they are repaid in three years with interest,
but the Governor believes it would be irresponsible to "borrow" such funds because it
would deepen the state's structural deficit and cripple local government and
transportation services; and
WHEREAS, refusal by the Legislature to carry out its constitutional obligation to
compromise on a balanced budget is not a "severe state of fiscal hardship" and would
not justify reductions in critical local services and infrastructure at a time when cities are
struggling to balance their own budgets during this economic down turn; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should balance the state budget with state revenues
and respect the overwhelming support of voters for not using local property taxes and
transportation sales tax funds to fund the day-to-day operating cost of state programs;
and
WHEREAS, it would be irresponsible to ignore the state structural deficit with
more borrowing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby
oppose any and all efforts by state government to "borrow" local tax funds and
transportation sales tax funds by the state government to finance state operations. Such
a move would not be responsible and would hamper effective local services and
infrastructure investments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby directed to send
this resolution and communicate this Council's strong and unswerving opposition on this
matter to the Legislators and the Governor along with an expression of our continued
appreciation for the Governor's steadfast opposition to further legislative borrowing and
raids on local government and transportation funding.
Dated: August 6, 2008
hereby certify that Resolution No. 2008-157 was passed and adopted by the
City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held August 6, 2008, by the following
vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS —Hansen, Hitchcock, Johnson, Katzakian,
and Mayor Mounce
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS— None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS —None
NDI .KOHL
City Clerk
2008-157