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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2004-057 (04-20-04)Resolution No. 2004.057 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE THE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX FUNDS WHEREAS, The State of California annually seizes more that $5.2 billion local property tax funds (ERAF) statewide, which have cost local governments more than $40 billion in the lost revenues over the past 12 years, including more than $800 million annually for cities, or $6.9 billion over the past 12 years, thereby seriously reducing resources available for local public safety and other services; and WHEREAS, The drain of local resources has continued even during pedods when the state's budget has been overflowing with surpluses as well as during difficult economic times; and WHEREAS, The Governor's budget proposal for FY 2004-05 would increase the amount of the ERAF property tax shift by $1.3 billion on a permanent basis, an increase of approximately 25 percent over the current ERAF shirt; and WHEREAS, The proposed FY 2004-05 budget would also, for the first time, permanently extend the ERAF shift to redevelopment agencies at an initial cost of $135 million a year undermining the ability of cities to leverage private investments in job-creating economic activities and resulting in approximately $1.3 billion in lost bonding capacity, $810 million to $945 million in lost public and private investments, 12,000 to 16,000 lost jobs, primarily in construction, and related lost income taxes to the state of California; and WHEREAS, The current state budget appropriates 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 adopted FY 2003-04 state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget deficit of at lease $8 billion, and the Legislative Analyst estimates that full implementation of the Governor's proposed budget for FY 2004-05, including passage by the voters of his $15 billion deficit financing bond, would result in an ongoing structural deficit of $7 billion, continuing to put city resources and services at risk in future years to additional state revenue raids; and WHEREAS, It is abundantly clear that state leaders 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, and shifted or othenNise taken 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 govemment to confiscate local tax funds to fund state government; and WHEREAS, The League has requested that cities offer support for the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act, a November 2004 ballot initiative, also known as the LOCAL initiative, that will allow voters to decide whether state government may appropriate local tax funds to fund state government operations and responsibilities. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD DOES HEREBY FIND, PROCLAIM, ORDER, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the City hereby expresses its strong support for the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act, also known as the LOCAL initiative, a statewide ballot initiative to allow voters to decide whether local tax funds may be taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted or otherwise used to fun state government operations and responsibilities. Section 2. That the City Council and staff are authorized to provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the city's representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative. Section 3. That the residents of the City are encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts on the critical local services on which they rely. Section 4. That the City Manager or her designee is authorized to carry out any transactions as so ordered by this resolution. Section 5. That this resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 20th day of April ,2004. ATTEST: ANDREA L. HOOPER, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: ilTY-ATTORNEY STATE OF CALIFORNIA } } ss. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES } I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lynwood at a regular meeting held on the 20th day of Apt-i 1 ,2004. AYES: COUNC! I_HEN NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE PEDROZA, RODRIGUEZ, SANTILLAN, ONE ~,NDREA L. HOOPER, ClTY'CLERK VASQUEZ AND BYRD STATE OF CALIFORNIA } ss. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES } I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of Resolution No. 2004.057 on file in my office and that said Resolution was adopted on the date and by the vote therein stated. Dated this 20th day of Apri 1 ANDREA L. HOOPER, CITY ~LERK 2004.