2003-30 RESOLUTION No 2003- 30
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND TERRACE, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING A STATE-
WIDE 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
funds (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
i
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 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 supportfora November2004
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 GRAND TERRACE 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
RESOLVED FURTHER, 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(or clerk) is hereby directed to send
a copy to the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 25T" day of September, 2003.
Mayor ohhe City of Grand Terrace
ATTEST:
City Clerk of the City of Wand Terrace
I, BRENDA STANFILL, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, do hereby certify
that Resolution No. 2003- 30 was introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the
City Council of the City of Grand Terrace held on the 251h day of September, 2003, by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Hilkey, LarWin and Cortes; Mayor Pro Tem Ferre and
Mayor Garcia
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Brenda Stanfill, City CIOW
Approved as to form:
City K torney