AgdaPkt 2002-12-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i�� SPECIAL SESSION from page 1-. � . i .� . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What does this mean for cities? We can look to the list of local government budget items that were considered in the 2002-03 budget debate for a clue as to items that might be considered. These included full or partial restoration of the Vehicle License Fees paid by vehicle owners, which has been reduced in 1998; a reduction in funding for COPS and/or the + luvenile Justice Program; the elimination of the booking fee reimbursements; a shift of monies from Redevelopment Agencies to the Education Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERA� — enacted this year with a 1-year sunset; a reduction in Library foundation funds (partially cut this year); and more! Given the magnitude of the current problem, we should expect even more proposals for cuts to local governments this year. In response to the severity of the State's fiscal problem, last week the League's Board of Directors approved consider- ation of a wide range of ineasures that would help the $tate close it's deficit gap, as long as enactment of them would serve to protect the funding of local services. LOCAL Coalition to Continue The League and it's members will continue to participate in the LOCAL coalition ("Leave Our Community Assets Local") that was formed by the League, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and the Califomia Special District Association (CSDA). The coalition attracted participation by numerous additional local groups and associations, underscor- ing the importance of protecting local services. Any cuts to our local government partners are bound to have an impact on cities - all the more reason for us to strengthen our coalition ties this year and present a unified voice to the Legislature and Governor. Now, more than ever, we will need local government officials to get actively involved and put a"local" face on the � potential impact of any proposed revenue cuts. " HOW DID WE GET HERE? A QUICK BUDGET REVIEW The state's budget woes were evident earlier this year when the Governor and the Legislature grappled with closing a$23.66 budget gap in the 2002-03 state What Can City Officials budget. The debate over how to close this gap resulted in the longest budget p0� stalemate yet -the final budget was 67 days late. The League needs your The state's fiscal situation has since worsened for a number of reasons. First, help to educate legis/ators most of the easy, one-time budget solutions were used to close the 2002-03 budget about the impacts of cuts gao. These amounted to approximately $9.66 of the total solution, and did little to to /ocal services. To help help the budget deficit concems in future years. In addition, the revenue estimates advocate in �^� budget � for the state weakened as the expected economic recovery has now, by the LAO's de'`oeratior, -�ase contaCt account, been pushed out until mid-2003 (and some speculate even further). yr��r local LE.: _.:e Grassroots Regional Representative. A The recent elections created more challenges. A 2/3 majority vote in both list of the Regional Represen- houses of the Legislature is required to pass a budget in California. With the new tatives can be found on the Legisiature, this translates into 6 Republican votes needed in the Assembly (possibly 7- which is 2- 3 more than was needed this year), and 2 Republican votes in the League's website at Senate (versus 1 in 2002). Republicans are already publicly stating their desire to WWW�cacities.ora. solve the problem without raising taxes, while Democrats are promising not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, the blind, the aged and the disabled. Clearly the debate will be a spirited one, and one in which locals must actively participate. PAGE 2/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org