HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-68 - Statewide Ballot Initiative (Require Voter Approval before State Govt. may take Local Tax FundsRESOLUTION NO. 03-68
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF -COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING A
STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER
APPROVAL BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE
LOCAL TAX FUNDS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
- 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 feel 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, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA 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
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
IF
initiative; and
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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager (or Clerk) is hereby
directed to send a copy to the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of October, 2003.
ATTEST:
of the City of Costa Mesa
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Deputy ity Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa City'Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, JULIE FOLCIK, Deputy City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the
City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 0 3- 6 8
was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting
thereof, held on the 20th day of October, 2003, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Monahan, Steel, Cowen,.Mansoor, Scheafer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this 21St day of October, 2003.
Depu City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of Costa Mesa