AgdaPkt 2002-07-01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

12.A. BUDGET from page 1 ................................................ The Committee has also begun a dialogue over budget items on the "completed list." They did not the last two days about revenues or taxes that can be include measures on the "reopen list" as they have done put into 01ace to help meet the deficit. While no final in the past. This gives us a small pinch of hope, but action has been taken, this discussion has touched upon again, anything can happen before the budget is the taxes proposed by the Governor (increase the finalized. vehicle license fees and taxes on cigarettes), as well as the repeal of certain tax credits and an increase in the Williamson Act upper income brackets of the personal income tax. The Williamson Act subvention was fully The Committee had plans to work over the funded at and was not put on the reopen list. This weekend. On Thursday afternoon, however, the Chair program is funded at $39 million. That is good news for of the Conference Committee abruptly announced that this program, but the action could be subject to change. the Committee would not meet again until the Republi- cans "stop playing games and doing drills." This was in Booking Fees response to the Assembly Republicans withholding votes on a key school financing bill that is critical to the Booking fees were fully funded at $38.2 million overall budget process. The bill failed in the Assembly and, like the COPS/Juvenile Justice and Williamson Act after it was passed unanimously in the Senate. This subvention, the item was not placed on the reopen list. blow up will ultimately be patched up and deliberations Good news, but proceed with caution. will resume, but at least for this weekend discussions are off. They could resume next week or next month. Law Enforcement Technology Grants It's hard to tell. Stay tuned! The Conference Committee eliminated the Conference Committee Actions Through funding for this program. This constitutes an $18,5 Wednesday Evening (June 19) million loss for local governments and a similar offset for the state general fund deficit. The following summarizes the action taken Redevelopment ERAF Shift through Wednesday evening on issues affecting local government. These actions show some promise for This proposal represents the greatest exposure local governments, but this budget is a long way to date for city redevelopment agencies (RDA's). The from completion.I proposal is to shift $75 million from RDA's to the ERAF fund that ultimately benefits the state general fund. Anything can and likely will happen. The more The proposal, surfaced by the Administration, would difficult it is to close the budget, the greater the be a permanent shift, The Administration's rationale jeopardy for local programs, for a permanent shift is that the ERAF shift has been COPS/Juvenile Justice permanent for all other local entities and therefore should be permanent for the RDA's. The Conference Committee provided full or The Committee, however, voted to limit the almost full funding for boththe COPS and Juvenile shift from Redevelopment Agencies to two years! This Justice programs: $121 million for COPS and $1 ~ 1 would ease the pain of a long-term/permanent shift. It million for Juvenile Justice. For the first time the would also will weigh heavily in the strategy of RDA's Committee -- after having reviewed these items when considering legal action against the state for the several times in the last two weeks -- placed the ERAF shift. Continued on Page 5 PAGE 4/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--w~vw.cacities.org