HomeMy WebLinkAbout20839 - RESOLUTIONS - 2/20/2004 RESOLUTION NO. 20839
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT STATEWIDE BALLOT
INITIATIVE REQUIRING VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE THE
STATE COULD REDUCE FUNDING FOR LOCAL SERVICES
OR SHIFT MORE COSTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over $800 million in city property tax funds
(ERAF) statewide, which has cost cities over $6.9 billion in lost revenues over the past 12
years and seriously reduced 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
local economic development; and
WHEREAS, the deficit financing plan in the state budget depends on a local property and
' sales tax swap that leaves future 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 steal local tax funds to
balance the state budget unless the voters put a stop to it by limiting 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 and inefficient
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 of this state to permanently 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 continue to appropriate
local tax funds to fund state government operations and responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palm Springs believes that all confiscated, shifted,
diverted, or otherwise stolen local tax funds should be returned to the local governments once
the current state budget shortfall is corrected.
Resolution 20839
Page 2 '
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs that
the City hereby expresses its strong support for a statewide ballot initiative to allow voters to
decide whether local funds may be taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted or otherwise used to
fund state government operations and responsibilities.
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. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager is hereby directed to send a copy to the
Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
ADOPTED this 201h day of February, 2004.
AYES: Members Foat, McCulloch, Mills, Pougnet and Mayor Oden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
City Clerk City Manager
REVIEWED AND ADOPTED AS TO FORM: