HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 04-001
RESOLUTION NO. 04-001
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SARATOGA ADOPTING THE BUDGET
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
WHEREAS, the Budget Accountability Act is designed to end the budget delays
that have created a fiscal crisis in our state. The purpose of this measure is to enact a
comprehensive reform of the State budget process designed to hold the Governor and
Legislature more accountable to the People of California by producing more responsible
and timely state budgets; and
WHEREAS, after the Governor introduces the budget, the State Legislature and
Governor have almost six months to complete the budget on time. However, the State
Legislature has not passed a budget on time since 1986; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislature and the Governor face no consequences when
they fail to meet the budget deadline imposed by the State Constitution. They can
continue to collect their salary and expense allowances. They are not required to
continue to work on the budget In fact, they can even go on vacation; and
WHEREAS, in order to hold elected officials accountable, voters are entitled to
know how their tax dollars are spent each year and how their state representatives vote
on the budget Currently voters do not have easy access to this information; and
WHEREAS, the two-thirds vote requirement to pass a state budget has
contributed to persistent late budgets and deficits. Political party leaders refuse to
compromise to solve the state's budget problem and have used the two-thirds vote
requirement to hold up the budget; and
WHEREAS, California, Rhode Island, and Arkansas are the only states in the
country that require a vote of two-thirds or more of the legislature to pass a budget; and
WHEREAS, party leaders threaten to punish state legislators if they refuse to
vote the party line on the budget Members of the Legislature should be accountable to
their constituents, not to party leaders. Our elected representatives must be free to vote
their consciences;
WHEREAS, California has faced large budget deficits and surpluses over the
past ten years. Elected officials from both major parties have increased spending and
cut taxes in good economic times, leaving the State with inadequate reserves when the
economy turns bad. Saving money in a rainy day fund in good times provides a
prudent reserve during economic downturns and states of emergency, which is
essential for responsible budget management; and
WHEREAS, the Budget Accountability Act is intended to make elected officials
more responsible for the consequences of their actions, to keep voters more informed of
the budget decisions being made by their legislators, to limit partisan extremism and
end gridlock in the budget process, and to require a rainy day reserve fund to balance
the budget in hard times and protect California taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the Budget Accountability Act will not change Proposition 13' s
property tax limitations in any way. The Budget Accountability Act changes the
legislative vote requirement for taxes to 55 percent only for the purpose of increasing or
decreasing taxes as part of the process of adopting the budget
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Saratoga City Council
hereby endorses the Budget Accountability Act
AYES: Councilmember Norman Kline, Vice Mayor Kathleen King,
Mayor Ann Waltonsmith
NOES: Councilmember Stan Bogosian, Councilmember Nick Streit
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
¿::u~h~)Æ
Ann Waltonsmith, Mayor
ATTEST
r\ (JU^\ ~fAÍl '~_
Wleen Boyer, City Clerk