HomeMy WebLinkAbout28-93 v ♦ • 110 41141/
RESOLUTION NO. 28-93
A RESOLUTION OF
THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED CUTS IN LOCAL
FUNDS BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS, the State of California failed to recognize the
depth of the recession; and
WHEREAS, the State of California for the past several years
has overestimated income and sales tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, the State of California continued to pass
legislation assigning programs to local governments without
regard to costs in a faltering economy; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is trying to correct a
serious budget deficit through Draconian cuts in funds allocated
to local governments; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties provide essential services,
including police and fire protection, to citizens of the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties throughout California are
suffering severe financial distress, and several are on the brink
of bankruptcy; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties are required to provide State-
mandated services without adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, cities have been contributing more than $20 million
a year in local dollars to the State General Fund through
cigarette taxes, trial court funding, and other fees levied in
the last two years; and
WHEREAS, property taxes and vehicle license fees represent a
substantial component of the funding base of cities, allowing
them to continue providing essential services, including police
and fire protection; and
WHEREAS, property tax monies were dedicated to local
governments after the passage of Proposition 13 as the permanent,
stable and long-term solution to local finance; and
WHEREAS, the State of California has bridged its budgetary
deficits in previous years by raiding local funds, such as liquor
license fees, highway carriers uniform business taxes, business
inventory property tax relief, cigarette taxes, drinking water
regulation fees, booking fees, and property tax administration
charges and fines and forfeitures; and
• 4 . S
WHEREAS, raids by the State Legislature on local funds this
summer would gut support for police and fire protection with no
immediate source of fiscal relief, thereby compromising public
safety; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Board of the Association of Bay Area
Governments on June 18, 1992 expressed opposition to such
practices by the Governor and the Legislature;
WHEREAS, there is a need for a long-term budgetary and
constitutional reform at the State level; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the Association of Bay Area
Governments adopted a resolution endorsingunityfor fiscal
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reform on March 15, 1991; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Board, in cooperation with school
districts, subsequently adopted on June 13, 1991, a declaration
of fiscal interdependency andstatementof guiding principles for
reform at the State and local level;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos
Hills does RESOLVE as follows:
Section 1. That the Town of Los Altos Hills calls upon the
Governor and State Legislature to refrain from raiding local
funds in an effort to bridge the budgetary gap in the short term
and calls upon legislators to develop responsible, long-term
fiscal and constitutional reforms; and
Section 2 . That the. State, in response to its own budget
crisis, should not use local funds to support State activities
but should cut State spending, close tax loopholes and raise its
own revenues and continue the current 1/2 cent sales tax; and
Section 3 . That the Governor and the State Legislature
support a simple majority on bond issues and taxes where the law
requires such a vote, make specific revisions to the tax system
to better meet the needs of the California economy in the future;
and
Section 4. That all unfunded State mandates should be
suspended.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of April , 1993 .
Mayor
ATTEST:
City CR
PB\VHG\149490IE.W50
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