HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - December 17, 2003 I-03AGENDA ITEM 10 Os
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AGENDA TITTLE: Adopt Resolution Supporting the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety
Protection Act, the November 2004 Ballot Initiative Cosponsored by the
League of California Cities, Designed to Increase Local Control Over Tax
Dollars
MEETING DATE; December 17, 2003
PREPARED BY: Janet S. Keeter, Deputy City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Council Adopt a Resolution Supporting the Local Taxpayers
and Public Safety Protection Act, the November 2004 Ballot
Initiative Cosponsored by the League of California Cities, Designed
to Increase Local Control Over Tax Dollars.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: For more than a decade, the California State Legislature has been
taking away increasing amounts of local tax dollars that local
governments use to provide community services such as police and
fire protection, parks and recreation, libraries, and administrative functions. The State has been taking
away billions in local tax dollars each year forcing local governments to either raise local fees or taxes to
maintain services, or cut back on critically needed services.
The proposed ballot initiative Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act would increase local
control over local tax dollars. This measure would let the voters have the final say on proposed actions
by the State Legislature that would further reduce local government funding or shift more costs to local
government.
What this measure does:
• Requires voter approval before the Legislature can reduce local government revenues or take
them for state, rather than local purposes.
• Ensures that local tax dollars are available to fund local services like police and fire, emergency
and trauma care, parks, roads, libraries and water delivery.
• Makes it absolutely clear that if the State Legislature mandates that local governments provide
new or expanded programs and services, then the State would have to reimburse local
governments for the cost of these programs.
• Provides flexibility for State budgeting decisions, but requires voter -approval on any future State
Legislative actions that would reduce funding for essential local services.
What this measure DOES NOT do:
• Raise taxes.
• Increase funding to local governments.
• Reduce funding that schools receive from local property taxes or funding that schools receive
from the State.
• Reduce funding for other State programs like schools or highways.
APPROVED:
, City Manager
Debbie Olson, League of California Cities, will brief the Council during the December 17th Council
meeting regarding the League's ballot initiative activities.
FUNDING: Not Applicable
Jane . Keeter
Dep ty City Manager
cc: Debbie Olson, League of Califomia Cities
A RESOLUTION Of THE LORI CITY COUNCIL.
aUPPOR.TING. A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE
TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE STATE
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL, TAX FUNDS
VVHER AS, 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 resouroes 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.swep that leaves city services vulnerable if the state's economic condition fails to
improve; and
WHEREAS, the adapted state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget deficit of at
least $8 billio , platting 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 tl e power of the Legislature and Governor to do
soy and
WHEREAS, the voters of California.are the best judges of whether Racal tax funds should
be diverted., confiscated, shifted; or otherwise taken to finance an ever-expanding stag
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 Gaffer support for a November 2004
ballot initiative. that will aiiow voters to decide. whether state government may appropriate local
tax funds to fund statb government operations and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BEIT 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 finds 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. deo public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative; and
SE 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/gar City Clerk are hereby directed to
send a copy of subject Resolution to the Executive Director of the League of California Giiiea.
Dated. December 17, 2003
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I hereby certify. that Resolution leo. 2003-24€3 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the Oity of Lodi in a regular meeting held December 17, 2003; by the following vote:
,AYES: COUNCIL. MEMBERS — Beckman, Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor
Hansen
ABSENT. None
ABSTAIN:,
SUSAN J. RI.:ACKSTON
City Clerk
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