HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 87-2008
RESOLUTION NO. 87-2008
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE
STATE BUDGET DECISIONS THAT WOULD "BORROW"
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REDEVELOPMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2008 the State Legislature missed its Constitutional budget
deadline; and
WHEREAS, both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Conference Conllnittee have
reconlnlended balanced budgets without resorting to "loans" or seizures of local govell1111ent
property tax, redeveloPlnent tax increlnent and transportation sales tax funds; and
WHEREAS, in 1952 the voters of Califoll1ia Aliicle XVI, Section 16 of the Califoll1ia
Constitution, providing for tax incre1nent financing for c0111111unity revitalization-not balancing
the state budget, and the voters never authorized the legislature to take or "bolTow" community
redeveloPlnent funds for state programs; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 by an 84% nlargin of approval the voters of Califoll1ia approved
Proposition 1 A and sent a loud and unmnbiguous lnessage to state leaders that they should stop
the destructive and ilTesponsible practice of taking local government funds to finance the state
budget and paper over the state deficit; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 by a 77% lnargin of approval the voters of California also approved
Proposition lA, providing sinlilar protections to transportation funding for state and local
transportation projects, including ilnportant street maintenance and public transit progrmns; and
WHEREAS, both ballot lneasures allow the Governor to declare a "severe state of fiscal
hardship" and "bolTow" these funds if they are repaid in three years with interest, but the
Govell10r believes it would be ilTesponsible to "bolTow" such funds because it would deepen the
state's structural deficit and cripple local govell11nent and transportation services; and
WHEREAS, refusal by the Legislature to calTyout its constitutional obligation to
compromise on a balanced budget is not a "severe state of fiscal hardship" and would not justify
reductions in critical local services, community revitalization progrmns and infrastructure
lnaintenance at a time when cities are struggling to balance their own budgets during this
econonlic down turn; and
WHEREAS, city investJnents in infrastlucture, affordable housing and basic public safety
and other community services will create needed jobs and speed our economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should balance the state budget with state revenues and
respect the overwhehning support of voters for not using local property taxes, redevelopment tax
increlnent and transportation sales tax funds to fund the day-to-day operating cost of state
progrmns; and
WHEREAS, it would be the height of fiscal ilTesponsibility to paper over the state
structural deficit with more bOlTowing, and Californians deserve state leaders who will tell theln
honestly what needs to be done to produce a balanced budget; and
WHEREAS, it is tiIne for the state of California to cut up its local govell1111ent credit
cards and deal with the budget deficit in a straightforward way. Balance the state budget with
state funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of South San Francisco hereby
opposes any and all efforts by state govell1nlent to "bolTow" or seize local tax funds,
redevelopment tax increment and transpOliation sales tax funds by the state govemlnent to
finance state operations. Such a nlove would be fiscally ilTesponsible for the state and hmnper
effective local services and infrastructure investnlents.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Mayor of South San Francisco is hereby directed to
send this resolution and comlnunicate this Council's strong and unswerving opposition on this
lnatter to our Legislators and the Governor along with an expression of our continued
appreciation for the Govell10r's and any supportive legislators' steadfast opposition to further
bOlTowing or seizure of these funds.
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I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular nleeting held on the 23rd day of
July 2008 by the following vote:
AYES:
Councihnenlbers Mark N. Addiego, Richard A. Garbarino and IZevin Mullin,
Mayor Pro Teln IZaryl Matsumoto and Mayor Pedro Gonzalez
NOES:
None
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: