AgdaPkt 2008-08-11 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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'Web site' Continued from Page 1... The new Web site helps visitors find out how much money the state of California has taken from their city since 1991. This amount is the cumulative net loss through FY 2007-08 from Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF), net of Proposition 172 funds and Citizen's Options for Public Safety (COPS) funds. Created as a forum to help city officials and residents take action to protect their local communities from state raids, the Web site is loaded with resources about the long term state seizure of city revenues and its impact. The site features: . A tool that lets visitors calculate how much the state has taken from their city since 1991 and send a "debt statement" to their local legislators; . Information about the state's history of seizing local revenues for its own budget; . Statements by California Legislators; . Clips and statements from Gov. Amold Schwarzenegger denouncing borrowing from local government; and . News articles, editorials and video clips. Take Action! City officials are urged to work with their regional public affairs managers to hold "cutting up the card" ceremonies, press conferences, pass resolutions, send letters to their state legislators and inform their constituents about the importance of protecting local government revenues. The public affairs managers have a "toolbox. of resources city officials can use including sample letters, resolutions, press releases, press statements, graphiCS and more. History of State Seizure of Local Government Revenues California cities can't afford to have the state once again seize local revenues or transportation funds and still provide the same level of critical services such as police, fire, and street maintenance. Cities across California are facing many of the same budget challenges as the state. The economic downturn has stalled sales and property tax revenues, and rising energy costs are draining city coffers. Cities don't have the option to borrow from any other level of government to balance their budgets; they just tighten their belts. If the state takes local revenues as a budget solution, cities will be forced to tighten their belts even further and Californians will suffer as a result. League President and San Diego City Council President Pro T em Jim Madaffer held up a mock Bank of Local Government Credit Card at a press conference on Monday, July 28, in his city, driving home the message that it is time to cut the local government credit card up once and for all. ''The voters have told state leaders to stay away from local funds," Madaffer said. "Borrowing these funds will do nothing more than plunge the state further into debt and worsen the state's structural deficit," he said. "Lawmakers need to solve the budget crisis without relying on further borrowing that would destroy local services." California voters made it clear that they do not want the state using local revenues to fund state government. Four years ago, 84 percent of voters passed Proposition 1 A to end the constant state seizure of local revenues. Just two years later, in 2006, 77 percent of voters told the Legislature to fix its own problems and protected transportation dollars. Recent Budget Developments Chris McKenzie, League of California Cities executive director, said that the Web site was created to provide information about the budget process and highlight the legislators who have said publicaly that they do not intend to use local government revenues to close the budget deficit. He also acknowledged the Govemor's continued support for local government and belief that the state can't keep taking local government revenues. 9A Page 2 2