AgdaPkt 2006-06-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

PROP. 42 PAYBACK FUNDS: HOW SHOULD CITIES BUDGET? With last week's release of the May Revise to the budget, Gov. Schwarzenegger is continuing to propose, as he did in January, that the FY 2006-07 budget include $920 million to pay back loans the state took from Proposition 42 transportation funding in FY 2003-04. This amount includes $254 million for local streets and roads (half for cities, half for counties), roughly the same level of funding as in the current FY 2005-06 year. Many city managers and finance officers are wondering if they should build their city's share of the payback into their own city budget proposals. The conservative answer is "no," because at this time, the proposal is simply that - a proposal. Absent this repayment of previously suspended Proposition 42 funds, the Transportation Conges- tion Relief Program in current law (Revenue and Taxation Code Sec. 7104(c» would be provide no Proposition 42 appropriation to cities or counties in FY 2006-07 to FY 2007-08. A clearer (and perhaps rosier) answer to this question will be available in a few weeks, when the Legislature has acted on the Governor's pro- posal. FIND A BILL, LEGISLATORS, LEG COMMITIEE - OR ASK LEG STAFF Visit (and bookmark!) the League's Legislative Resources page (www.cacities.org/learesources). You'll find a roster and contact information for the League's legislative staff; the online Bill Search program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more. LEG ACTION DAYS from page 1 . . . . . . . The Governor hailed the bond as a great success, and a shining example of what the Legislature can accomplish when working to- gether. It will appear on the November statewide ballot as Proposition 1C. "The bond package was passed not because of me, but all of you," the Governor told the packed ballroom of local government officials, including members of the League's board of directors. "There was no 'Republican way,' no 'Democrat way,' we did it the California way. This was a huge victory for California." The League's Legislative Action Days is an annual event, where city officials come to the State Capitol to lobby their legislators on League priority issues. This year's program featured a variety of speakers from the League, State Legis- lature, and state agencies. Governor, Legislators Receive League Awards Following the Governor's speech, League First Vice President Maria Alegria, Mayor Pro Tem in the city of Pinole, presented the Governor with a commemorative shovel as an award recognizing his work on the bi-partisan infrastructure invest- ment package. Also on hand to receive the awards were Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, Sen. Dick Ackerman, Sen. Bob Dutton, Sen. Alan Lowenthal and Sen. Tom Torlakson. The commemorative shovels were intended to signify the infrastructure work that will be under- taken if the housing and other infrastructure bonds are passed by voters in November. Also honored, but not present to accept the awards, are Assem- bly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Assembly Minority Leader George Plescia. Telecommunications Discussed by Levine, Diversity Caucus Members The Governor's remarks came at the end of a program that also included a discussion of tele- communications reform. Continued on Page 3 PAGE 2 - PRIORITY FOCUS May 19, 2006 - Issue #20 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org < <~«-. . .__.<OM_m'~< <.~..._..._-_.~--, __._H._, ----' ..,---..--. ...,.',