AgdaPkt 2003-10-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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//. �¢-23 INITIATIVE from page 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • ORANGE COUNTY from page 1' • • ' • ' • ' ' __ As reported earlier, the goal of the initiative is Also at the October 9 Division meeting, Lake simply to require that the voters be consuRed before Forest Mayor Richard Dixon, a member of the the legislature reduces critical local revenues. If Or�nge County CITIpAC Fund�� g Committee, "structural reforms" considered by the legislature in _ will � a briefing •on the fun�raising program. the future would reduce individual local revenues, they would be subject to the same requirement. The On September 18, tne Orange County Regis- batlot measure would not raise taxes, repeal existing ter published an op-ed on the `triple flip' written by laws , change the allocation of property ar other The Orange County Division Advocacy Commit- taxes, expand the taxation powers of local govern- tee. It IS the first piece written joinUy by the Advo- ments nor require the retum of property taxes �c Committee. After describin the tri le fli already taken. It would do two simple things: y 9 p p and the history of state takeaways of local rev- • Public Vote Reauired. Require approval by a enues, the op-ed states: majority of the electorate before a proposed state law may take effect that reduces local tax revenues "Taxpayers deserve to have their dollars (sales, property and VLF) to cities, counties and refumed to the local level. Cities provide the special districts (including RDAs); an essential services that we use, such as police, • Reimburse for Mandated Costs. Clarify that . fire, libraries, and parks to name just a few. Cities the state must reimburse local governments for a new also do a better job of balancing their budgets and mandated program or higher level of service, protect- hofding the line on spending than Sacramento. ing local governments from cost shifts. While State budgets grew and glew, cities kept spending down in the hard times. In the past ten If all goes according to plan, the initiative will be years, city spending is down nine percent while submitted to the Attorney General tor title and sum- State spending is up 21 percent. In the past hvo mary in mid-October. Copies of the measure as years alone, cities have `given" over $1 billion to submitted will be shared with League members the state so it could balance its budget This is _ shortly thereafter. why we canY trust the Legislature to triple Bip away BUDGET from page 1 • ' • • • • • • • • • • • . . city dolfars. • In January, Governor Davis recommended- "The good news is the�e is still fime to reverse eliminating the vehicle license fee (VLF) backfill the triple-flip and stop fhe use of any /ocal dollars altogether. In the final budget, locals are temporarily �n this shell game scheme. As written, fhe compli- losing �825 million in VLF backfill, to be repaid in cated shift-shaR of loca/ govemments wouldnY 2006. begin until the middle of next year. The state can • In January, Governor Davis recommended a do this Scheme with its own money and it should." shift from Redevelopment Associations to ERAF beginning at $250 million, and increasing by 25% ;' ��"' �""""" """" ""' ■ each year after that (for 15 years). The final budget ; REGISTER NOW! � included a shift of only $135 million. . � While there are clearly other impacts imposed : ; upon cities by the final budget, most notably the "triple ; I.EAq,IE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ; ( ip' swap of Br9dley-Burns sales ta � or prop jrty tax � LEGISLATIVE BRIEFINGS ; which doesn't o into effect until Jul 1, 2004 the ■ results could have been even worse. LOCAL activism ■ ■ made a difference • ■ : November 19 in Ontario ; Thanks to each city official who responded when ; November 21 in Sacramento ; we asked for help. To see just how great the re- � To register, go to www.Cacities.orglevents. ; sponse was, visit the League's website to see a video ■ � reviewingtheLOCALimpactthisyear. ■■■■■■�■■■■•■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ PAGE 4/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-•www.cacities.org