HomeMy WebLinkAbout6257_CCv0001.pdf RESOLUTION NO. 6257
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. OF THE CITE' OF REDLANDS
SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL
BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TALC FUNDS
WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over$800 million in city property tax funds
(ERAF) statewide, costing cities over $69 billion in lost revenues over the past 12 years and
seriously impacts 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,a 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 government operations and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
R.EDLANDS AS FOLLOWS:
1. The City Council hereby expresses its strong support for the November 2, 2004
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.
2. That the City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational
materials on the initiative as maybe lawfully provided by the City's representatives.
No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative.
3. That the residents of the City are encouraged to become well informed on the
initiative and its possible impacts on the critical local services on which they rely.
4. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to the
Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this 2nd day of March, 2004.
ayor f the City of i ed ands
ATTEST:
City erk
I,Lorrie Poyzer,City Clerk of the City of Redlands,hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was
adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof,held on the 2nd day of March, 2004 by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gil, Gilbreath, George, Harrison; Mayor Peppler
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Lorri oyzer, Cit(YFyk
RESWs7