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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1992 0219 CC REG ITEM 08EMOORPARk TEM e. E 799 Moorpark A,enue Moorpark, California 93021 TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Richard Hare, Deputy City Manage DATE: February 13, 1992 SUBJECT: Consider Election For Authorization to spend Excess Proceeds of Taxes Background (805) 529 -6864 r;CTION: Article XIIIB of the State Constitution limits the annual appropriations of state and local governments. The revenues received as proceeds of taxes which are in excess of that limit may not be spent, unless the electorate authorizes their expenditure in a special election. The last election held for such authorization was on June 7, 1988. The voters approved Measure C, which increased the City's Appropriation Limit for the four year period beginning fiscal year 1986/1987 through fiscal year 1989/1990. The appropriation limit was increased by the amount of the proceeds of taxes collected in excess of the appropriation limit for each of those years. It is estimated that the City will have received over $275,000 in excess proceeds of taxes by the end of fiscal year 1991/1992. Of that amount, $261,000 is from fiscal year 1990/1991 and $14,000 from this fiscal year. Given the current economy, it is anticipated that additional funds will be needed in fiscal year 1992/1993 in order to maintain the same level of services. Staff has met with the Budget & Finance Committee to discuss the economic trends and the outlook for the next fiscal year. It is agreed that it may be necessary to go to the voters and request their permission to spend these excess proceeds of taxes. If an election were to be held, an election in June would cost approximately $5,500 because it would be a single item election and an election in November would cost $1,000. Santa Clarita was also faced with an appropriation limit which was too low to fund the basic levels of service. They successfully petitioned the court to raise the appropriation limit to a more realistic level, based upon the actual costs of operating their City. Santa Clarita used the law firm of Burke Williams and Sorensen in this matter. Staff is investigating the approach taken by the City of Santa Clarita and will be reporting back to the Council on their findings. PAUL W. LAWRASON JR. JOHN E WOZNIAK SCOTT MONTGOMERY BERNARDO M. PEREZ ROY E. TALLEY JR. Mayor Mayor Pro Tern C. urra7member Councilmember Councilmember Honorable City Council Election for Authorization February 13, 1992 Page Two The Budget & Finance Committee expressed concern regarding the additional cost of having the measure considered in June and it was the Committee's opinion that more information was needed regarding the approach taken by the City of Santa Clarita to correct their low appropriation limit. The Committee does not recommend consideration of a measure authorizing the expenditure of excess proceeds of taxes until November. Recommendation Staff concurs with the Budget & Finance Committee recommendation and requests direction from Council to investigate, with the assistance of the City Attorney's office, the possibility of amending the City's original appropriation limit.