AgdaPkt 2003-10-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

1�� ANNUAL CONFERENCE from page 4• •••• L e� i s I a t i v e B i 11 Action _ dramatic change, and we are the people to tip the scales in favor of the people of California." The folbwing are summaries of just a few The Exposition was aiso a huge success. of the legislative bills that ��re currently being l�here were 330 booths, offering a wide range of acted upon by the League cf California services and products useful to ciry officials. Cities. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League When asked what they liked best about the Website's new "Issues and Advocacy" conference, exhibtors listed the friendly atmo- Page (www.cacities.orctl sphere, the fact that key contacts from cities issuesandadvocac� — a one-stop location were present, and the informal opportuniry to to access information about legislation, get to know etected officials and primary deci- policy issues and related developments. sion makers. You can track information on bills Next year's conference will be held at the ��•cacities.org/legtracking), locate Long Beach Convention Center September 17- legislators and legislative committees, send 19. For more highlights on this year's confer- letters to the govemor, legislators or the ence, or to obtain information about the 2004 media through the online Advocacy Center, Conference, please visit the Education, Confer- research League policy positions, access ences and Networking section of the League's useful related links, and much more. website. For information about the Exposition please contact Expo Manager Julia Williams, jwilliams@cacities.org. REVENUE AND TAXAl10N GARBAGE TRUCKS from page 1 • • - - • • • AB 94 (Chu). Property Taxation: Pension '" After several weeks of ineetings and nego- Funding. AB 94 deals with a long-standing issue of tiations between the ARB staff, the League, voter-approved, extraordinary property rates to CSAC, the Regional Council of Rural Counties help fund public pension debt. In a 1982 Supreme and the Solid Waste Association of North Court decision, Carman v. Alvord, it was declared America — California Chapters, the ARB staff that pre-1978 voter-approved pension programs will propose changes to the rule that instead constitute indebtedness that local officials could would simply require local governments to finance with a property tax rate outside the 1% limit provide information to the ARB about those imposed by Proposition 13. The Legislature re- haulers operating within their juriSdiCtlons ovef sponded in 1985 by imposing a cap on extraordi- nary property tax levels limiting them to 1982 — 83 which they have rate setting authority. With this �evels. There are currently 26 local agencies in change, the League, along with the other orga- California that are subject to the cap. AB 94 would nizations, has indicated it would remove its permit those local agencies to impose higher opposition. The League has also indicated that property tax rates to cover more of the debt for if these changes are adopted, we would support public pension purposes. Cities that wish to imple- the rule. The League's new support position is a ment this option would be required to comply with result of review and action on September 7 by the necessary constitutional and statutory provi- the League's Environmental Quality Policy sions for approval. Staff: Jean Korinke Status: To Committee. The ARB hearing on this issue will enrollment. Position: Request for Signature. be held September 25 in Sacramento (not in Diamond Bar as previously scheduled). For AB 1368 (Kehoe) Bonds. AB 1368 requires more information, please contact League head of state agencies that administer specific Legislative Representative Yvonne Hunter, email bond funds to report on the projects funded. yhunter(o�cacities.orq; telephone 916.658.8242. Recently, California voters have approved bond measures to provide much needed capitol for major Visit the League's Official Web Site•-www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5