AgdaPkt 2003-12-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I (PA - 3 RESOLUTION No. RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PLACEMENT OF THE "LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT" INITIATIVE ON THE NOVEMBER 2, 2004 STATEWIDE BALLOT, REQUIRING VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY CONFISCATE LOCAL TAX FUNDS WHEREAS, the State of California annually seizes $824 million of city property tax funds (ERAF), seriously reducing resources available for vital local services such as public safety; and WHEREAS, in adopting the FY 2003 -04 state budget the Legislature and Governor confiscated a portion of the local vehicle license fee "backfill" and redevelopment property tax funds that are needed to finance critical city services such as public safety, housing and economic development; and WHEREAS, the FY 2003 -04 budget also relies on a deficit bond financing program, opposed by the League of California Cities, that is predicated on a local property and sales tax "swap" that leaves cities vulnerable to future losses if the state's economic condition fails to improve; and WHEREAS, the adopted budget assumes the state will continue to face an ongoing structural budget deficit of at least $8 billion, putting local government financial resources at severe risk in future years; and WHEREAS, the State has repeatedly shifted costs for State - sponsored programs, and over the last two years has "deferred" over $1 billion in constitutionally - required reimbursements to local governments for State - mandated programs and services; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly clear that State leaders will continue to use local tax funds to balance the State budget unless the voters limit the power of the Legislature and Governor to do so; and WHEREAS, research conducted by the League of California Cities in recent years indicates that an initiative that would require voter approval before the State government can confiscate local tax funds would likely be supported by an overwhelming number of voters; and