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I .A-5' LOCAL COALITION PUSHES FOR END TO BUDGET STAI FMATE Members of the LOCAL Coalition ("Leave Our Commu- * North County Times, editorial, )egislators are not nity Assets Local") continued their efforts over the past two deaiing responsibly with managing the state budget. weeks to talk to legislators and the media about the need to Orange County Register, op-ed by Sen. Ray Haynes on pass a state budget that protects local services, even as the "baseline budgeting". budget stalemate continued. On July 31 the Coalition Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, editoria[ on state "budget- released this statement: iog schemes". Fresno Bee, editorial, urging Assembly passage of Senate "As of today, California's state budget is one full bud.qet, urges Briggs to vote for budget. month late, Without knowing the level of funding that ' · Fresno Bee, column by Fresno Bee editorial page editor, will come from the state, California's local services are Jim Boren on Briggs's position on the state budget. increasingly at risk, Our cities, counties and special Mentions LOCAL visit last week. districts are having difficulty finalizing budgets For essential services such as public safety, social services, Fresno Bee, letter to the editor from Sonia Hall, health care, perks and water delivery. The effects of President, Fresno Republican Assembly, urging Briggs not to vote for Senate version of budget. these uncertainties are having a very real impact on residents throughout the state. LA Daily News, op-ed by Assemblyman Keith Richman. "When the Legislature resumes session next week, the Articles, The budget stalemate continues to receive LOCAL Coalition urges legislators and the administration extensive media coverage, in part as the result of efforts by to pass quickly a budget that preserves CaliFornia's local LOCAL and other budget stakeholders to emphasize the services. The task facing state lawmakers is certainly importance of the state moving to adopt the budget. Some daunting. But we believe the state can and should balance articles are featuring LOCAL's efforts. Some examples: its budget without further penalizing residents who rely on local services every day." The Merced Sun Star ran a story on July 26 entitled, "Coalition may help keep local funds in area.. The Throughout July, groups of LOCAL coalition partners story reads, "The LOCAL group wants to make sure met one-on*one with legislators, in some cases in city halls, essential services aren't cut to balance the state budget and rather than legislative district offices; conducted editorial that taxes stay in the local area to support the community. board briefings; and continued their coalition-building A cut to local revenues is a cut to services." activities. Press coverage has been steadily growing. Some examples: The World Journal ran a story on July 10 entitled, "LOCAL calls on people to concern themselves with Editorial Board Briefings. Meetings were held last the sMte budget." The story reads, "People may have week with the Ridgecrest Daily Independent and the known For a long time about California's recent budget Merced Sun Star. The Merced paper subsequently ran a difficulties, but many may not know that these diFficul- story about the LOCAL coalition and its efforts on July 26. ties have a potentially enormous negative impact on the (See below.) This week regional LOCAL coalition members budgets of various Bay Area cities. In a plea to get the met with the Visalia Times Delta, the Santa Rosa Press attention of*the state Assembly, many Bay Area cities- Democrat, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and the Tulare Advance including Cupertino.have decided to bend together to put Register. Future meeting are planned with the editorial pressure on Sacramento." boards of the Palm Springs DesertSun, and the Salinas CaliFornian. Other Recent Budget Stories: Editorials and Op-Eds Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, cuts to LA County Sheriffs Department means cuts in specialty policing programs. Orange County Register, editorial, "state budget San Diego Union-Tribune history of late t:)udgets and outlook looks grimmer every day." this year's election year impacts. San Diego Union-Tribune, editorial, Senate version of budget isn't fiscally responsible; Assembly Republicans Continued on Page 6 should hold out for a better budget. Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.or§ PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5