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9A Page 10 Mayor Ridenour said that his city will literally go dark If gas taxes are seized because they will be forced to shut off 12,000 street lights. He told reporters that cities are not a state program but separate governments that have suffered the same drastic revenue losses as the state. The Modesto mayor ended his remarks by giving the can to Clovis City Council Member Nathan Magsig. The council member explained to reporters how his county's (Fresno) unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 15.4 percent and that the public works projects funded with gas tax are imperative to keeping folks working. He ended his remarks by urging the Legislature to reject these unconstitutional job killing proposals because the promised savings are illusory and will only cause widespread economic harm. League Executive Director Chris McKenzie was the final speaker and summarized the following points about the proposed seizures of local funds for the state budget: . They will undermine investor confidence; . They are illegal; and . They will kill jobs. The press conference was well covered with representatives from both print and electronic news outlets including: . The Sacramento Bee . Capitol Weekly . KFBK-AM . KCRA-TV . Fox 40- TV . Public CEO . Capitol Television News Service Capitol Public Radio also conducted a phone interview with Chris McKenzie following the news conference. The Riverside Press Enterprise is running a story as welf on June 26. 'Budget Continued from Page 1... While the redevelopment bill, S8 80, passed the Assembly, the scope of the bill has been reduced from the previous three-year $1.050 billion proposal to a one-year hit of $350 million. The language in the bill contains provisions that try to work around the recent successful lawsuit by California Redevelopment Association (eRA), and collect $350 million from redevelopment agencies for the FY 2008-09. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already vowed to veto these money-raising bills, because they do not represent a complete solution to the state's budget problems. Attorneys are just beginning to review the language of S8 80. eRA however contends that this action would still be unconstitutional. Many cities have adopted resolutions expressing strong opposition and concerns about the proposed redevelopment fund take. Cities rely on these funds as an important economic development tool and the loss of these funds amounts to an "anti- stimulus" action by the state at a time when one of the most important things government can do is promote job growth and stability. The Senate and Assembly are meeting Friday. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D- Sacramento) says he is committed to working every day until the state has a budget. Next Steps Negotiations between the Democrats and Republicans appear to be far apart with no budget compromise yet In sight. As developments occur, the League will communicate with our members about the actions city officials can take to help protect local funds from a state budg~t raid. 3