AgdaPkt 2004-02-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

, - lA-? CITIES URGED TO TESTIFY AT CALlERS LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES' BOARD FEB. 18 HEALTH BENEFITS MEETING VOTES SUPPORT FOR PROPOSITIONS 55,57 AND 58 Cities that participate in the CalPERS health The board of directors of the League of Califor- program are urged to send representab les to a nia Cities voted to support Propositions 55, 57 and February 18 CalPERS Health Benefits C;Jmmittee 58 at their Feb. 7 meeting in Huntington Beach. All meeting in Sacramento, and to testify regarding three of the measures will appear on the March 2 the impacts on your city from rising health care ballot. costs. Proposition 55, the Kindergarten-University The committee will meet on Wednesday, Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004, would February 18, at the Auditorium located in Lincoln allow the state to issue $12.3 billion of general obligation bonds for construction and renovation of Plaza, 400 P Street, in the City of Sacramento, K-12 school facilities ($10 billion) and higher beginning at 10:00 a.m. The CalPERS Health education facilities ($2.3 billion). Benefits Committee oversees the administration of the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Proposition 57, the California Economic Recov- Care Act (PEMHCA) program and the Public ery Bond Act. would authorize the state to issue a Employees' Long-Term Care Program. $15 billion bond to finance a portion of the state's deficit, with a ~ cent of the 1 cent of local sales tax The Contracting Agency Panel, a pro-reform dedicated to payment of the debt service on the advocacy group consisting of labor, management, bond. Proposition 58, the California Balanced Budget Act, makes constitutional changes to retiree representatives, and cities, has met over a require a balanced budget and a rainy-day budget 3-month period and has developed a series of reserve, establishes additional mid-year reduction recommendations centering on changes to the authority for the executive branch, and disallows PEMHCA system. The League, along with the future borrowing to payoff deficits. Provisions in California Professional Firefighters, will present Proposition 57 specify that it would become opera- the Panel's recommended changes to the tive only if the voters also approve Proposition 58. CalPERS Board on February 18. Commenting on the board's support for Prop. Topics to be raised include the rate setting 55, League Executive Director Chris McKenzie said, process, an alternative self-funded PPO option, a "City officials understand that these kids are our future. California's rapidly growing population joint statewide drug purchasing pool, establish- makes it essential that we construct new schools to ment of a public agency pool, optional benefit meet the needs of growing communities, and designs, prioritizing staff time for contracting commit the necessary resources to modernize agency focus,PEMHCA rules and regulations, existing schools. It's all part of maintaining a regional rating, and adjusting PEMHCA to the strong, healthy community." health care marketplace. Governor Schwarzenegger and state legislators A detailed discussion of these issues is negotiated propositions 57 and 58 in December as available on the League's website under part of a plan to address the state's $15 billion www.cacities.oro/emDloyeerelations. deficit. "This board's vote on these measures ex- The League encourages affected cities to presses the League's support for the state's efforts participate in this forum. For additional informa- to bring order to its fiscal affairs," said League tion, please contact League Legislative Represen- President Ron Loveridge, Mayor of the City of tative Amy Brown at brownaCéì>.cacities.oro, or by Riverside. "We understand that these two mea- calling 916.658.8279. sures are important features of the state's plan to find immediate, near-term remedies to restructure the state deficit. We support these efforts, as we do any solutions that will help prevent further impacts on local services." Visit the league's Official Web Siteuwww.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5