CC RES 2003-086RESOLUTION NO. 2003 -86
A RESOLUTION 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, The City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
does resolve, determine and order as follows:
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
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
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; and
That the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy to the Executive
Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED orkthis-'Wh day of October 2003.
Mayo
Attest:
s.:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, JO PURCELL, City Clerk of The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify
that the above Resolution No. 2003 -86 was duly and regularly passed and
adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on October 7,
2003.
City Clerk
Resolution No. 2003 -86
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