HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 32-04 LocalTaxFundBallot REsoLUTION NO. 32 - 04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
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 fimds
(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 the 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 that the City Council of the City of Dublin 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
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City 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
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 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
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager (or City Clerk) is hereby directed to send
a copy of this Resolution to the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of March, 2004.
AYES: Conncilmembers McCormick, Oraveta, Zika, and Mayor Lockhart
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Sbranti
ABSTAIN: None ~~ ~~~_ ~
y Mayor
ATTES~~_~ ~~_ ~.~
'(3~ty ~l~rk ' ~ ~
K2/G/3_2_04/reso-ballotmeasure.doc (Item 7.2)