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Iz.A SNEAK All'ACK from page · .. · BUDGET from page I -........ · · · ... The League understands that the legislation is As the budget impasse drags on, more and more aimed at preventing local elected officials, manag- cities are finding it difficult to move forward with the ers and local employees from contributing per- decisions essential to the continued flow of service. sonal funds through voluntary payroll deduction For example, cities are required, as part of the to an organization created by local governments to COPS grant program, to hold public hearings in advocate on statewide ballot measures and September, at which time public safety officials can finance issues. The proposal is likely to come in request the appropriations. In the absence of a state the form of an amendment to an existing bill. The budget many city offidals are uncertain as to exact bill number will not be revealed until the whether they should go forward with setting the amendment is actually made. We understand that hearings, or how the local law enforcement person- Assembly Member Pat Wiggins may be the author nel can request funds if they if they don't know the of the amendment, final appropriation level for the COPS program. There is only one week left in the legisla- (In this instance, cities may wish to hold the tive sessionl While we do not yet have a bill hearings, based on a "status quo" level of funding, number, the League is asking that city officials amd document what they intend to spend the monies begin to call legislators immediately an{] ask for ~ on.) NO VOTE on any measure that is amended to accomplish this limitation on the right of city A clear impact on local government is the news officials to speak on public policy in the state of that the scheduled August 30 payment of the Traffic California. Congestion Relief Funds (Highway Users Tax) to cities ($48 million/month) and counties ($50 million/ This is an effort by the sponsors to reduce month) has been denied by the State Controllefs the influence of local officials and employees office because of the lack of a budget. This is the in developing state policy -- pure and simple! second month that these payments were withheld. They don't want local officials to exert influence The next scheduled payment is October 1 (pay- over decisions about local government finance, ments are due the second business day after the They want all the power to reside in Sacra- 28th of the month). mento where they can better control the agenda! Staff Contacts: Dwight Stenbakken Unfortunately, this stalemate can continue for (916/658-8213; stenbakd~,cacities.or,q) and some time. While June 15 is the constitutional Amy Brown (916/658-8279; deadline for passage of a budget, and August 31 is browna~,,cacities.orq) the deadline for passing most bills in the Legislature, the law does allow for some bills, including "appro- priations for the usual current expenses of the state" to be passed bythe Legislature up ur~til November 15. This is the last possible date for the Governor to receive these types of bills, and still allow sufficient time for signature and veto consideration before the adjournment of the Legislature on November 30. To date, the longest the State has gone without Legisla- tJve approval on the budget is September 2. Cleady, the longer the impasse continues, the more impact it will have on local governments and the services we provide our citizens. PAGE 4/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org