HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 08-55RESOLUTION NO. 08-55
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET DECISIONS THAT
WOULD "BORROW" LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
REDEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2008 the State Legislature missed its Constitutional budget
deadline; and
WHEREAS, both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Conference Committee
have recommended balanced budgets without resorting to "loans" or seizures of local
government property tax, redevelopment tax increment and transportation sales tax funds;
and
WHEREAS, in 1952 the voters of California approved Article XVI, Section 16 of the
California Constitution, providing for tax increment financing for community revitalization-
not balancing the state budget, and the voters never authorized the legislature to take or
"borrow" community redevelopment funds for state programs; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 by an 84% margin of approval the voters of California approved
Proposition 1A and sent a loud and unambiguous message to state leaders that they
should stop the destructive and irresponsible practice of taking local government funds to
finance the state budget and paper over the state deficit; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 by a 77% margin of approval the voters of California also
approved Proposition 1 A, providing similar protections to transportation funding for state
and local transportation projects, including important street maintenance and public transit
programs; and
WHEREAS, both ballot measures allow the Governorto declare a "severe state of
fiscal hardship" and "borrow" these funds if they are repaid in three years with interest, but
the Governor believes it would be irresponsible to "borrow" such funds because it would
deepen the state's structural deficit and cripple local government and transportation
services; and
WHEREAS, refusal by the Legislature to carry out its constitutional obligation to
compromise on a balanced budget is not a "severe state of fiscal hardship" and would not
justify reductions in critical local services, community revitalization programs and
infrastructure maintenance at a time when cities are struggling to balance their own
budgets during this economic downturn; and
Resolution No. 08-55
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WHEREAS, city investments in infrastructure, affordable housing and basic public
safety and other community services will create needed jobs and speed our economic
recovery; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should balance the state budget with state revenues
and respect the overwhelming support of voters for not using local property taxes,
redevelopment tax increment and transportation sales tax funds to fund the day-to-day
operating cost of state programs; and
WHEREAS, it would be the height of fiscal irresponsibility to paper over the state
structural deficit with more borrowing, and Californians deserve state leaders who will tell
them honestly what needs to be done to produce a balanced budget; and
WHEREAS, it is time forthe State of California to cut up its local government credit
cards and deal with the budget deficit in a straightforward way and balance the state
budget with state funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Tustin hereby opposes any
and all efforts by state government to "borrow" or seize local tax funds, redevelopment tax
increment and transportation sales tax funds by the state government to finance state
operations. Such a move would be fiscally irresponsible for the state and hamper effective
local services and infrastructure investments.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Mayor/City Manager is hereby directed to send this
resolution and communicate this Council's strong and unswerving opposition on this matter
to our Legislators and the Governor along with an expression of our continued appreciation
for the Governor's and any supportive legislators' steadfast opposition to further borrowing
or seizure of these funds.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Cit~ uncil ~ the City of
Tustin held on the 5th day of August 2008. ~~
E,
PAMELA STOK
City Clerk
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF TUSTIN )
I, Pamela Stoker, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of
the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 08-48 was duly
passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 5th day of
August, 2008, by the following vote:
COUNCILMEMBER AYES: Amante, Davert, Bone, Kawashima, Palmer (5)
COUNCILMEMBER NOES: None (0)
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: None (0)
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: None (0)
PAMELA STOK
CITY CLERK
Resolution No. 08-55
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