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RESOLUTION NO. 38-2008
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF TIBURON OPPOSING STATE BUDGET ACTIONS THAT
WOULD BORROW OR SEIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REDEVELOPMENT
AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
WHEREAS, the State Legislature missed its Constitutional budget adoption
deadline on July 1, 2008; and
WHEREAS, both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Conference
Committee have recommended balanced budgets without resorting to "loans" from or
seizures of local government property tax, redevelopment tax increment and
transportation sales tax funds; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, the voters of California approved Article XVI, Section 16
of the California Constitution, providing for tax increment financing for community
revitalization-but not for balancing the state budget;
WHEREAS, in 2004, by an 84% margin, the voters of California approved
another important measure, Proposition lA, that sent an unambiguous message to state
leaders that they should cease the practice of taking local government funds to finance the
state budget; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, by a 77% margin, the voters of California approved
Proposition 42, providing similar protections to transportation funding for state and local
transportation projects, including important street maintenance and public transit
programs; and
WHEREAS, both ballot measures allow the Governor to declare a "severe state of
fiscal hardship" and "borrow" these funds if they are repaid in three years with interest,
WHEREAS, "borrowing" such funds would only serve to deepen the state's
structural deficit and cripple local government and transportation services; and
WHEREAS, a "severe state of fiscal hardship" must be resolved by meaningful
compromises by the Governor and State Legislature to balance the budget in a
responsible and lasting manner; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should balance the state budget with state revenues
and respect the overwhelming judgment of voters by not using local property taxes,
redevelopment tax increment and transportation sales tax funds to fund the day-to-day
operating cost of state programs; and
Tiburon Town Council Resolution No. 38-2008 August 6, 2008
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WHEREAS, city investments in infrastructure, affordable housing and basic
public safety and other community services will create needed jobs and speed our
economic recovery and should not be hampered by State seizure of local funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Tiburon hereby
opposes efforts by state government to "borrow" or seize local tax funds, redevelopment
tax increment and transportation sales tax funds by the state government to finance state
operations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor of Tiburon is hereby directed to
sign this resolution and the Town Manager is directed to communicate the Tiburon Town
Council's position on this matter to our State Legislature and the Governor.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Tiburon Town Council on
August 6, 2008, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Berger, Collins, Fredericks, Gram, Slavitz
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
None
Tiburon Town Council Resolution No. 38-2008 August 6, 2008
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