HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 077-2008RESOLUTION NO. 77-2008
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURLINGAME
OPPOSING FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET DECISIONS THAT
WOULD "BORROW" LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REDEVELOPMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Burlingame:
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2008, the State Legislature was unable to meet the State of
California Constitutional budget deadline; and
WHEREAS, both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Conference Committee have
recommended balanced budgets without resorting to "loans" 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, and the voters
never authorized the Legislature to take or "borrow" community redevelopment funds for state
programs; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 by a vote of 84% in favor, the voters of California approved a first
Proposition 1A and sent a loud and unambiguous message to State leaders that they should stop
the destructive and irresponsible practice of taking local government funds to finance the State
budget and paper over the State deficit; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 by a vote of 77% in favor, the voters of California approved a
second Proposition IA, 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, but the
Governor believes it would be irresponsible to "borrow" such funds because it would deepen the
State's structural deficit and cripple local government and transportation services; and
WHEREAS, the annual inability of the Legislature to meet its constitutional obligation
to compromise on a balanced budget is not a "severe state of fiscal hardship" and cannot justify
reductions in critical local services, community revitalization programs and infrastructure
maintenance at a time when cities are struggling to balance their own budgets during this
economic down turn; and
WHEREAS, cities, large and small, and counties, large and small, across the State have
made the difficult day-to-day decisions necessary to keep their budgets balanced as required by
the State Constitution; and
WHEREAS, city investments in infrastructure, affordable housing and basic public
safety and other community services create needed jobs and speed our economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should balance the State budget with actual State revenues
and respect the overwhelming voices of voters against using local property taxes, redevelopment
tax increments, and transportation sales tax funds to fund the day-to-day operating cost of State
programs; and
WHEREAS, it is fiscally irresponsible to continue to paper over the State's structural
deficit with more borrowing; and
WHEREAS, it is time for the State of California to cut up its local government credit
cards and deal with the budget deficit in a straightforward way — balance the State budget with
state funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED AND ORDERED:
1. The City of Burlingame hereby opposes any and all efforts by State govennnent to
"borrow" or seize local tax funds, redevelopment tax increment and transportation sales tax
funds by the State government to finance State operations.
2. The City Manager is hereby directed to send a certified copy of this resolution and
communicate this Council's strong and unswerving position on this matter to our Legislators and
the Governor along with an expression of our continued appreciation for the Governor's, and any
committed legislators', steadfast opposition to further borrowing or seizure of local funds.
01
MAYOR
I, DORIS MORTENSEN, City Clerk of the City of Burlingame, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 2nd day of _
September , 2008, and was adopted thereafter by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BAYLOCK, DEAL, KEIGHRAN, NAGEL, 01MAHONY
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
2
Y CLERK