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!• X1'1 111 1 DH 1 •' ■ City officials from the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County and Orange County were invited to participate in a Senate Local Government Committee hearing in Diamond Bar on the potential impacts on local governments of the vehicle license fee and redevelopment proposals in the Governor's budget. The May 9 hearing was presided over by Committee Chair Tom Torlakson (Antioch). He was joined by Senator Bob Margett (Arcadia) and Senator Nell Soto (Pomona). The intent of the hearing was to focus on where local services are delivered, "where the rubber meets the road." City after city shared stories of how their communities would be devastated by cuts to the VLF and redevelopment funds proposed in the Governor's January budget. Senators, "If local government can save money, why can't Sacramento do the same ?" • Monrovia Council Member Mary Ann Lutz testified that a cut in the VLF would mean that the city would have to eliminate ALL of their recreation programs and staff, they would have to cut library hours and fire 15 police officers. • Jeffrey Parker, Walnut City Manager, testified that the city would have to cut 30% on all operations to compensate for a VLF loss. • Claremont, Michael Busch, Finance and Budget Manager testified that a reduction in redevelopment funds would take away the oppor- tunity for economic development. Claremont has invested $10 million in a redevelopment project and without RDA funds, they would not qualify for matching federal funds. • Jim Thalman, Mayor of Chino Hills, testified that a loss of the VLF, their largest rev- enue source would mean drastic cuts in public safety. As a community that experiences a tre- mendous amount of commuter traffic, traffic enforcement would suffer. • Sierra Madre Mayor Pro Tern Rob Stockly comes from a small residential commu- nity that relies on the VLF to provide a full -range of services. A loss of the VLF would mean a loss of a police officer, a reduction in library hours and the cancellation of recreation programs. • Blaine Michaelis, San Dimas City Man- ager, said that "every single service would be subject to some cuts" to accommodate a potential cut in VLF. He went on further to equate the VLF takeaway as a broken promise and distrust of the state. • Arcadia City Manager, Bill Kelly, testified that even for a city that has a well - balanced source of revenue, the community still stands to lose. He admonished the state and asked the • La Habra Heights City Manager John Hendrickson testified that they would need to reduce expenditures by 4% and delay all capital improvements. The cities of Diamond Bar, Brea, El Monte, La Verne, and Ontario also participated in the hearing. The hearing was a unique opportunity for city officials to remind legislators of the devastating impact certain budget cuts have on essential local city services. Senators Tom Torlakson and Bob Margett thanked the cities for providing "good, valuable, solid information to take back to Sacra- mento." PALE 6 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the Ieague'a Official Web Site-- www.cacities.cxg