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RDA from page 4 .................. SB 744 from page 1-.,, · · · -,,, · · o .,, obligated to make the RDA payment in addition to The League had hoped that SB 744 would their "share" of the nearly $1 .l billion ERAF remain in the Senate to allow negotiations on shift imposed directly on cities and counties. Housing Element refon,~ to continue at HOD ' without political pressure.' We understood, how- Oppose the ERAF Shiffl ever, that Senator Dunn h~'J the ability te move SB 744 to the Assembly no matter what. A prominent City officials are urged to share this information member of the Senate, Senator Dunn was also with their legislators and the Governor - and make working closely with the powerful California Build- your communications even more effective by lng Industry Association (CBIA) to lobby the bill on including information about how the ERAF shift the Senate floor. However, city efforts to educate would affect economic development in your com- their legislators about the flaws in this legislation m~nity, had an effect: we were able to pick up a few key Democratic opponents to the bill (Senators For talking points, and tb write an online letter to the Governor And' your legislators, please visit Chesboro, Sher, Speier and Kamette) as well as the League's online Advocacy Center at many Republicans. Roll call votes on SE, 744 are www.cacities.ora/advocacvc~nter, included below. Now the Assembly: We Need Your Help; Anti-local government rhetoric is frequently a part of the debate on controversial housing legisla- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON tion such as SB 744. Therefore, it is imperative TRANSACTION AND USE TAX that local officials continue to remind state legisla- tors of the importance of local democracy, particu- INCREMENTS larly where land use decisions are concerned. As the fight against SB 744 moves to the Assembly, Last year, legislation (SB 566) was passed here are things your city can and should do to that provides cities the option of seeking voter help: approval of a sales tax increase for a general or specific purpose. The tax, technically, a 1. Say Thank You (Where Appropriate). If transaction and use tax, may be increased in increments of .25% up to a maximum combined your Senator voted against SB 744 or abstained from voting, take the time to thank them and make countywide ceiling of two percent. The State Board of Equalization (SBOE) administers the sure their commitment to local governments on transaction and use tax in addition to the this issue remains firm. Bradley-Burns for local jurisdictions. The ordinance adopted to levy the transaction tax 2. Send an opposition letter on SB 744 to must include certain specific language so the Your Assembly Member. Visit the advocacy SBOE can collect and distribute the revenues, section on the League's website (www.cacities.orq/advocacycenter) to find your Any city that is considering this option representative. A sample letter is available at should contact Larry Micheli, Supervisor of the www.cacities.org/hced. SBOE Local Revenue Allocation Section, at 916-324-2977 early in the planning process. · Copy the Chair of the Assembly Housing and Larry can assist city officials with the ordinance Community Development Committee and the language and other administrative details Chair of the Assembly Local Government Commit- required by SBOE to collect and distribute the tee at their Committee offices. Addresses below. revenues. Continued on Page 7 Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5