2004-017-Supporting The Local Taxpayers And Public Safety Protection Act Of 2004RESOLUTION 2004 -17
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS
AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROTECTION ACT OF 2004
WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over $800 million in local
government 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
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 deficit financing plan in the state budget depends on a local
property and sales tax wap that leaves city services vulnerable if the estate's economic condition
fails to improve; and
WHEREAS, the .adopted state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget
deficit of at least $8 billion, putting local 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, shifted or otherwise 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 government 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 Act, a November .2004 ballot initiative that will allow voters to
decide whether state government. may appropriate local tax funds to fund state government
operations and responsibilities.
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.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY 'THF LOS GATOS TOWN
COUNCIL expresses its strong support for the Local Taxpayers and Public .Safety Act of 2004,
a proposed .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 Town Council and staff are authorized to
provide impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the
Town's representatives. No public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative;
and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the residents of the Town are encouraged to
become well informed on the initiative and its possible impacts on the critical local services on
which they rely.; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Town Manager is hereby directed to send a
copy to the Executive Director of the League of California Cities.
PASSED .AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the
Town of Los Gatos, California held on the 17t" day of February, 2004, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Sandy Decker, Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, Mike Wasserman,
Mayor Steve Glickman.
NAYS.: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None 1, ~~ j~
IG ED: ~~~"~~' "
S N
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK DF TIME TOWN OF LOS ATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
,.