HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 10-022RESOLUTION NO. 10 — 022
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL TAXPAYER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TRANSPORTATION PROTECTION ACT OF 2010
WHEREAS, California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed separate
ballot measures to stop State raids of local government funds, and to dedicate the taxes on
gasoline to fund local and state transportation improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, these local government funds are critical to provide the police and fire,
emergency response, parks, libraries, and other vital local services that residents rely upon every
day, and gas tax funds are vital to maintain and improve local streets and roads, to make road
safety improvements, relieve traffic congestion, and provide mass transit; and
WHEREAS, despite the fact that voters have repeatedly passed measures to prevent the
State from taking these revenues dedicated to funding local government services and
transportation improvement projects, the State Legislature has seized and borrowed billions of
dollars in local government and transportation funds in the past few years; and
WHEREAS, this year's borrowing and raids of local government, redevelopment and
transit funds, as well as previous, ongoing raids of local government and transportation funds
have lead to severe consequences, such as layoffs of police, fire and paramedic first responders,
fire station closures, stalled economic development, healthcare cutbacks, delays in road safety
improvements, public transit fare increases and cutbacks in public transit services; and
WHEREAS, State politicians in Sacramento have continued to ignore the will of the
voters, and current law provides no penalties when state politicians take or borrow these locally -
dedicated funds; and
WHEREAS, a coalition of local government, transportation and transit advocates
recently filed a constitutional amendment with the California Attorney General, called the Local
Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010, for potential placement on
California's November 2010 statewide ballot; and
WHEREAS, approval of this ballot initiative would close loopholes and change the
constitution to further prevent State politicians in Sacramento from seizing, diverting, shifting,
borrowing, transferring, suspending or otherwise taking or interfering with tax revenues
dedicated to funding local government services, including redevelopment, or dedicated to
transportation improvement projects and mass transit.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the CITY COUNCIL of the CITY OF
SARATOGA formally endorses the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection
Act of 2010, a proposed constitutional amendment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CITY COUNCIL hereby authorizes the listing
of the CITY OF SARATOGA in support of the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and
Transportation Protection Act of 2010 and instructs staff to fax a copy of this resolution to
campaign offices at 916.442.3510.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Saratoga City Council at a regular meeting held on
the 21st day of April 2010 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Chuck Page, Howard Miller, Vice Mayor Jill Hunter,
Mayor Kathleen King
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Susie Nagpal
ATTEST:
Ann Sullivan, City Clerk
Kathleen M. King, Mayor