HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04 • • .
Resolution No. 3-04
A Resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills
Endorsing Proposition 56 - "Budget Accountability Act"
WHEREAS,Proposition 56, also known as the Budget Accountability Act, is
designed to end the budget delays that have created a fiscal crisis in our state. The
purpose of this measure is to enact a comprehensive reform of the State budget process
designed to hold the Governor and Legislature more accountable to the People of
California by producing more responsible and timely state budgets; and
WHEREAS, after the Governor introduces the budget,the State Legislature and
Governor have almost six months to complete the budget on time. However,the State
legislature has not passed a budget on time since 1986; and
WHEREAS,the State Legislature and the Governor face no consequences when
they fail to meet the budget deadline imposed by the State Constitution. They can
continue to collect their salary and expense allowances. They are not required to
continue to work on the budget. In fact, they can even go on vacation; and
WHEREAS, in order to hold elected officials accountable, voters are entitled to
know how their tax dollars are spent each year and how their state representatives vote on
the budget. Currently voters do not have easy access to this information; and
WHEREAS, the two-thirds vote requirement to pass a state budget has
contributed to persistent late budgets and deficits. Political party leaders refuse to
compromise to solve the state's budget problem and have used the two-thirds vote
requirement to hold up the budget; and
WHEREAS, California, Rhode Island, and Arkansas are the only states in the
country that require a vote of two-thirds or more of the legislature to pass a budget; and
WHEREAS, party leaders threaten to punish state legislators if they refuse to
vote the party line on the budget. Members of the Legislature should be accountable to
their constituents, not to party leaders. Our elected representatives must be free to vote
their consciences; and
WHEREAS, California has faced large budget deficits and surpluses over the
past ten years. Elected officials from both major parties have increased spending and cut
taxes in good economic times, leaving the State with inadequate reserves when the
economy turns bad. Saving money in a rainy day fund in good times provides a prudent
reserve during economic downturns and states of emergency, which is essential for
responsible budget management; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 56 is intended to make elected officials more
responsible for the consequences of their actions, to keep voters more informed of the
budget decisions being made by their legislators,to limit partisan extremism and end
gridlock in the budget process, and to require a rain day reserve fund to balance the
budget in hard times and protect California taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 56 will not change Proposition 13's property tax
limitations in any way. Proposition 56 changes the legislative vote requirement for taxes
to 55 percent only for the purpose of increasing or decreasing taxes as part of the process
of adopting the budget.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Los Altos
Hills hereby endorses Proposition 56 appearing on the March 2004 ballot.
Passed and adopted the 15th day of January, 2004.
By
Mayor
Attes
ty Clerk