RPVCCA_SR_2010_02_16_14_League_CA_Cities_Support_ltrCrTYOF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Carolynn Petru,Deputy City Manager®
February 16,2010
Support for the League of California City's Ballot Measure
Entitled the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and
Transportation Protection Act of 2010
REVIEWED BY:Carolyn Lehr,City Manager ~
Staff Coordinator:Sara Singer,Senior Administrative Analyst
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No.2010-_;a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes supporting the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and Transportation
Protection Act of 2010.
BACKGROUND
On December 23,2009,a coalition,which includes the League of California Cities and
local government,transportation and public transit leaders,began collecting the
694,354 signatures required to place a measure,the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety and
Transportation Protection Act,on the November 2010 statewide ballot.The need for
this measure came following the state's proposed action to take $1 billion in local gas
tax revenues,and then actually borrowing $2 billion in local property taxes,seizing
billions in redevelopment agency funds and taking $697 million of transit funds.While
Prop 1A was approved by the voters in 2004 and amended the state constitution to
provide local agencies with some protections from state raids on local revenues,the
state continues to find loopholes in the amendment,therefore putting local tax dollars at
risk.
DISCUSSION
The current measure was filed with the Attorney General's office in October 2009,and
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Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and Transportation Protection Act of 2010
February 16,2010
Page 2
now the coalition hopes to collect the necessary signatures needed to qualify a
constitutional amendment for the statewide ballot.Hundreds of local government,
public safety,business and labor leaders have signed up with the coalition to assist with
gathering the signatures.If passed,the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and
Transportation Act of 2010 would:
•Prohibit the state from borrowing local government property tax funds which are
vital for public safety and other local services.
•Prohibit the state from borrowing or taking gasoline taxes which are dedicated to
transportation and transit improvements and services,including the state sales
tax on gasoline (Prop 42 funds),and the Highway User Tax on gasoline (HUTA).
•Prevent the taking of locally levied taxes,including parcel taxes,sales taxes,and
other locally imposed taxes that are currently dedicated to cities,counties and
special districts.
•Prohibit the state from taking,borrowing or redirecting existing funding for public
transit,including existing taxes on gas and "spillover"funds dedicated to the
Public Transportation Account.
•Add additional constitutional protections to prevent the state from raiding
redevelopment funds or shifting redevelopment funds to other state purposes.
CONCLUSION
The League of California Cities is encouraging all public agencies to formally pass a
resolution expressing support for this ballot measure.The following Los Angeles
County cities have already passed similar resolutions:Carson,Manhattan Beach,
Hermosa Beach,Culver City,Beverly Hills,Gardena,Lomita,Rolling Hills,and West
Hollywood.With the state continuing to raid and borrow local funds to fix their budget
problems,this measure is needed to protect taxpayers and the vital local government
and transportation services that support our quality of life and economy.
Attachment:
Resolution No.2010-_;
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RESOLUTION NO.2010-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TAXPAYER,PUBLIC
SAFETY,AND TRANSPORTATION PROTECTION ACT OF 2010
WHEREAS,California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate
ballot measures to stop state raids of local government funds,and to dedicate the taxes on
gasoline to fund transportation improvement projects;and,
WHEREAS,these local government funds are critical to provide the public safety,
emergency response,parks,storm drain and sewer improvements and repairs,and other
vital local services that residents rely upon every day,and gas tax funds are vital to
maintain and improve local streets and roads,to make road safety improvements,relieve
traffic congestion,and provide mass transit;and,
WHEREAS,despite the fact that voters have repeatedly passed measures to
prevent the state from taking these revenues dedicated to funding local government
services and transportation improvement projects,the State Legislature has seized and
borrowed billions of dollars in local government and transportation funds in the past few
years;and,
WHEREAS,this year's borrowing and raids of local government,redevelopment and
transit funds,as well as previous,ongoing raids of local government and transportation
funds,have lead to severe consequences state-wide,such as layoffs of police,fire and
paramedic first responders,fire station closures,stalled economic development,healthcare
cutbacks,delays in road safety improvements,public transit fare increases and cutbacks in
public transit services;and,
WHEREAS,state politicians in Sacramento have continued to ignore the will of the
voters,and current law provides no penalties when state politicians take or borrow these
dedicated funds;and,
WHEREAS,a coalition of local government,transportation and transit advocates
recently filed a constitutional amendment with the California Attorney General,called the
Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and Transportation Protection Act of 2010,for potential
placement on California's November 2010 statewide ballot;and,
WHEREAS,approval of this ballot initiative would close loopholes and change the
Constitution to further prevent state politicians in Sacramento from seizing,diverting,
shifting,borrowing,transferring,suspending or otherwise taking or interfering with tax
revenues dedicated to funding local government services,inclUding redevelopment,or
dedicated to transportation improvement projects and mass transit.
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THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Rancho Palos Verdes formally
endorses the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,and Transportation Protection Act of 201 0,a
proposed constitutional amendment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby authorizes the listing of
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes as being in support of the Local Taxpayer,Public Safety,
and Transportation Protection Act of 201 0 and instructs staff to fax a copy of this resolution
to the campaign offices at 916.442.3510.
PASSED,APPROVED,and ADOPTED this 16th day of February 2010.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I,Carla Morreale,City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,hereby certify that the
above Resolution No.2010-_was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City
Council at a regular meeting held on February 16,2010.
City Clerk
Resolution No.2010-XX
Page 2 of2
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