HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 03-102RESOLUTION NO. 03-102
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BALLOT
INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE
STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX FUNDS
WHEREAS, the State Government currently seizes over $800 million in city property
tax funds (ERAF) Statewide, 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 State Budget also relies on a deficit bond financing program that
is predicated on a local property and sales tax swap that leaves city services vulnerable to
future losses if the State's economic condition fails to improve; and
WHEREAS, the adopted budget assumes the State will continue to face an ongoing
structural budget deficit of at least $8 billion, putting local government financial resources
at risk in future years; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly clear that the State 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 by the Legislature 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 fora 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 PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, 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
C
RESOLUTION NO. 03-102
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council and staff provide such
educational materials on the possible impacts of such an initiative as may be lawfully
provided by the City's representatives; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the residents of the City are encouraged to become
well informed on the opportunities available to them through such an initiative to safeguard
the critical local services on which they rely; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the City Manager is hereby directed to send a copy to
the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED, by the City Council of the City of
Palm Desert, California, at its regular meeting held on this 25th day of September, 2003,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: CRITES, KELLY, SPIEGEL, and BENSON
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: FERGUSON
ABSTAIN: NONE
ATTEST:
4' .r5 .�
RACHELLE D. KLASSE , CITY CLERI'
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
M. BENSON, MAYOR
2