HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 03-120RESOLUTION NO. 03-120
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, sUPPORTING A STATEWIDE
BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL
BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX
FUNDS
WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over $800 million in city property tax
funds (ERAF) statewide, costing cities over $6.9 billion in lost revenues over the past 12
years and seriously reducing resources available for local public safety and other services;
and
WHEREAS, in adopting the state bUdget this year the Legislature and Governor
appropriated local vehicle license fee backfill and redevelopment property tax funds that are
needed to finance critical city services such as public safety, parks, street maintenance,
housing and economic development; and ,
WHEREAS, the deficit financing plan in the state budget depends on a local property
and sales tax swap that leaves city services vulnerable if the state's economic condition
fails to improve; and
WHEREAS, the adopted state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget deficit
of at least $8 billion, putting city resources and services at risk in future years to additional
state revenue raids; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly clear that state leaders will continue to use local tax
funds to balance the state budget unless tl~e voters limit the power of the Legislature and
Governor to do so; and
WHEREAS, the voters of California are the best judges of whether local tax funds
should be diverted, confiscated, shifted or otherwise taken to finance an ever-expanding
state government; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Voting Delegates of the League of California
Cities at its September 10 2003 meeting voted to sponsor a statewide ballot initiative to
empower the voters to limit the ability of state government to confiscate local tax funds to
fund state government; and
WHEREAS, the League has requested that cities offer support for a November 2004
ballot initiative that will allow voters to decide whether state government may appropriate
local tax funds to fund state government operations and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUSTIN that the City hereby expresses its Strong support for a statewide ballot initiative to
allow voters to decide whether local tax funds may be taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted
or otherwise used to fund state government Operations and responsibilities; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Cit~y Council and staff are authorized to provide
impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the city's
representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the residents of the City are encouraged to become
well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts on the critical local services on which
they rely; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy to the
Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
ADOPTED this 6th day of October, 2003.
Resolution No. 03-120
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PAMELA STOKER
City Clerk
ILLS WORLEY ~
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
CITY OF TUSTIN )
SS
PAMELA STOKER, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the
City of Tustin is 5; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 03-120 was duly and regularly
introduced, passed, and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the
6th day of October, 2003.
COUNCILMEMBER AYES:
COUNCILMEMBER NOES:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT:
'PAMELA STOKER
City Clerk
Worley, Kawashima, Bone, Davert, Thomas (5)
None (0)
None (0)
Resolution No. 03-120
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