HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 11419 (Support Voter Approval; Take Local Tax Funds)RESOLUTION No. 11419
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL IN SUPPORT OF 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;
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;
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 over-
expanding State government; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Voting Delegates of the League of
California Cities at its September 10, 2003 meeting unanimously 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, that the City Council of the City of
San Rafael 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 information 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 FURTHER RESOLVED, that the residents of the City of San Rafael are
encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts on the
critical local services on which they rely; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a
copy of this resolution to the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of said City held on Monday, the fifteenth day of September,
2003 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Hel 1 er, Mi 11 e•r, Phi 1 1 i ps & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT. • COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Jealkne M. Leoncini, City Clerk