RES 08238 - Laserfiche WebLink

RESOLUTION NO. 08-238 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLEASANTON OPPOSING STATE BUDGET DECISIONS TO USE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REDEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDS TO FINANCE STATE OPERATIONS 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; voters did not authorize 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 state deficit; and WHEREAS, in 2006 by a 77% margin of approval the voters of California also approved Proposition 1A, 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 Governor to 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 carryout 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 down turn; and 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 is time for the State of California to responsibly deal with the state budget deficit in a straightforward way to produce a balanced budget; and