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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES CC 2004 2164 2004 0204RESOLUTION NO. 2004 -2164 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX FUNDS WHEREAS, state government annually seizes over $800 million in city property tax funds 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 fiscal 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 swap that leaves city services vulnerable if the state's economic condition fails to improve; and WHEREAS, the adopted state budget assumes an ongoing structural budget deficit of at least $8 billion, putting 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, shifted or otherwise taken to finance an ever - expanding state government; and WHEREAS, on September 10, 2003, the General Assembly of Voting Delegates of the League of California Cities voted to sponsor a statewide ballot initiative to empower the voters to limit the ability of state government to confiscate local tax revenues to fund state government; and Resolution No. 2004 -2164 Page 2 WHEREAS, the League of California Cities has asked cities to support a November 2004 ballot initiative that will allow voters to decide whether state government may appropriate local tax revenues to fund state government operations and responsibilities. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City of Moorpark hereby expresses its strong support for a 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. SECTION 2. 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. The City Clerk of this resolution and shall cause filed in the book of original i PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4t ATTEST: shall certify to the adoption a certified resolution to be Deborah S. Traffenste t, City Clerk Resolution No. 2004 -2164 Page 3 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF VENTURA ) ss. CITY OF MOORPARK ) I, Deborah S. Traffenstedt, City Clerk of the City of Moorpark, California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Resolution No. 2004 -2164 adopted by the City Council of the City of Moorpark at a regular meeting held on the 4th of Feburary, 2004, and that the same was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Harper, Mikos, Millhouse, Parvin and Mayor Hunter NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None WITNESS my hand and the official seal of said City this 6th day of February, 2004. Deborah S. Traffenste t, City Clerk (seal)