AgdaPkt 2003-07-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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l.q -5 BUDGETfrompage4 00666600406960 adjourned for the weekend, reportedly to give Republicans time to prepare amendments to further cut the budget. Assembly Demos Hit the Road, Then Cast Their Own Vote It was very quiet on the Assembly side of the Capitol for most of the week. All committee meet- ings were cancelled to allow Assembly Democrats to go into local communities to urge city councils and county supervisors to encourage their (mainly Republican) Assembly Members to vote for the tax increases in an emerging Assembly budget package. LEG VISITS from page 1 ...... • • • • • • League Regional Representatives were in contact with many city officials prior to the meet- ings to provide talking points for use during the discussion. The League also provided a copy of alternative language to a resolution on the budget that the Assembly Democrats were urging the local groups to adopt. The League version in- cluded multi -year state budget spending limits, and constitutional protection for local revenues. Feedback on the meetings provided by city officials and the League's regional representatives indicated that the legislators delivered a not -so- subtle message: local officials should support tax increases or risk a budget that includes devastat- ing cuts to local services. This was an unusual strategy by Assembly Democrats. The message, sometimes explicit, sometimes delivered more subtly, was that with- out a tax increase, the cuts to local government are going to get bigger. Reports about the meet- ings are unclear as to whether this move helped the budget progress or set it back. The Assembly Democratic package discussed with local officials includes a $600 million cut to cities and counties ($250 million - counties; $250 million - cities; and $100 million - redevelopment agencies). It was rumored that the Assembly was going to take up the budget package on Thursday, but that action never materialized. It may be taken up today. (Check the League's Website for up- dates.) It is unclear where the discussion goes from here. Both houses are scheduled to be shut down over the weekend although budget leaders and staff will likely be running "drills ". Once again, stay tuned. Most councils had cordial discussions with their legislative visitors, but some reported more intense give and take. City officials were good about staying on message. They talked about the need for any cuts to local services to be propor- tional, fair and one -time only. They tried, with mixed success, to hold the Democratic legislators' feet to fire on the constitutional protection issue. Some councils adopted the resolution offered by the Assembly Democrats; so far as we know, most of the adopted resolutions also included the League alternative language. Other councils told the Democrats they could not support tax in- creases beyond the support they provided to restore the VLF. The Assembly is rumored to be preparing to consider a budget containing a $600 million /3 -year reduction ($250 million city; $250 million county; and $100 million redevelopment). A vote may be taken today. (Check the League's Website for the latest developments.) Our Mission Restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians. Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5