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SA Page 4 Governor, City OffIcials Rallies on Propositions 1A-F and Other Issues The Governor packed the ballroom at the Sheraton Wednesday afternoon where he thanked the League for supporting Props. 1A-F on the May 19 statewide special election ballot He told the audience that it would be historic If Prop. 1A. the measure that would temporarily raise taxes and deposit revenues above a certain level into a Budget Stabilization Account. passes next month. "The last time the state had a rainy day fund It was under Gov. Earl Warren (1943- 1953),. observed Gov. Schwarzenegger. Talking optimistically about the campaign to pass the propositions. the Governor commented that his partnership with city officials has always brought him luck. -Let's go and create a budget system so that we don't have this problem, we can solve It once and for all,. said the Governor. The Governor also discussed other issues including the need for improving California's water, infrastructure and health care refonn. Watch a clip of the Governor's remarks on YouTube: htto:llwww.voutube.com/watch?v=RKW1 aVrt3ka Economic Recovery and Budget Also Topics of Thursday General Session The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was also a big topic of discussion during Legislative Action Days. The League's City Funding Book, which Is a resource on ARRA funding. is getting a great deal of attention by more than just California city offtclals. Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BTH) Secretary Dale Bonner thanked the League for its work compiling the comprehensive City Funding Book. He told the audience that California, can use federal stimulus funding for infrastructure projects. The BTH secretary also told the audience that his agency is giving extra points for Prop. 1 C applications to cities that are using federal stimulus funds. ~gV,E .,Il.i'l~<\ , E:S:' Lt.,::,~;, ;~}.:\\~,~:!: Karen Douglas, chair of the California Energy Commission D,.' Bonner, secretary, Bulin..., (CEC), said that her agency Is in the early stages of working Transportation and Housing Agency on guidelines for Energy Efficiency and ConselVation Block Grants for small cities that will be disbursed by the CEC. She also announced a series of CEe workShOps May 4 (Diamond Bar). 6 (Fresno) and 7 (Sacramento) from 1-3 p.m. for local govemment officials on ARRA funding. The workshops will be at different locations but feature the same agenda. More details will be reported in City Advocate Weekly when available. California Deputy Treasurer Katie Carroll provided some national perspective on California's budget woes, telling the audience that 47 states have a budget shortfall, 19 with double digit deficits. Carroll discussed how the credit crisis and cash flow problems at the state level impact cities In the form of delayed or stalled Infrastructure projects. Budget Action Day June 3 The League's work on budget issues is far from complete and It's Important that city officials continue to communicate to state leaders that the state should balance the state's budget with state revenues so cities can use their revenues for their own constrained budgets. The Governor Is expected to release his revised budget a week after the May 19 special election. City officials are urged to come to Sacramento June 3 for Budget Action Day to lobby their legislators on how the b~dget potentially impacts local government. Watch for more information on Budget Action Day In City Advocate Weekly and make plans to travel to Sacramento for this important event to protect local revenues. 4