Signature Gathering Starts on Nov. 2010 Measure to Protect Local Gov, Transportation and Transit Funding Measure Aimed for November 2010 Statewide Ballot Would Protect Funding for Local Public Safety, Emergency Response, Transportation and Other Key Local Services Published on Dec 23, 2009 - 10:40:34 AM
By: Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services
Sacramento, CA Dec. 23, 2009 – Today, a coalition of local government, transportation, business, public safety, labor and public transit leaders announced kicking off a signature-gathering effort statewide to qualify the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 (AG Initiative #: 09-0063) for the November 2010 ballot. The measure closes loopholes to prevent the State from taking, diverting or borrowing local government, transportation and public transit funds.
Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services will collect more than 1.1 million signatures to ensure it meets the required 694,354 valid signatures needed to qualify a constitutional amendment for the statewide ballot. Already, hundreds of local government, public safety, business, and labor leaders have signed up to assist in a massive volunteer signature gathering effort. Signatures also will be collected via paid signature gatherers.
"California's cities, counties and special districts provide vital police, fire, emergency response and other services that every Californian relies upon," said Chris McKenzie, Executive Director of the League of California Cities and Co-Chair of Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services. "But continued State raids and borrowing of local government funds have put these vital local services at risk. This measure would put a stop to State raids and borrowing of local taxpayer dollars and protect vital local services. As various stakeholders evaluate the need for reforming California State government, we believe there is no more important reform than untangling the messy relationship between the State and local governments."
California voters have repeatedly and overwhelmingly passed measures to restrict state raids of local government funds, as well as to dedicate gasoline taxes to transportation and public transit improvements and services. Despite this, State elected officials have exploited loopholes in the law and used legally questionable tactics to borrow and raid more than $5 billion in local government, transit and redevelopment funds this year alone, and billions more in past years. Coupled with the downturn in the economy and falling local government revenues, state raids and borrowing of local funds are contributing to severe cutbacks in local police and fire services, parks, libraries, street and road repair, public transit and other local services.
If passed, the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Act of 2010 would:
· Prohibit the state from borrowing local government property tax funds which are vital for public safety and other local services.
· Prohibit the state from borrowing or taking gasoline taxes which are dedicated to transportation and transit improvements and services, including the state sales tax on gasoline (Prop 42 funds), and the Highway User Tax on gasoline (HUTA).
· Prevent the taking of locally levied taxes, including parcel taxes, sales taxes, and other locally imposed taxes that are currently dedicated to cities, counties and special districts.
· Prohibit the State from taking, borrowing or redirecting existing funding for public transit, including existing taxes on gas and "spillover" funds dedicated to the Public Transportation Account.
· Add additional constitutional protections to prevent the state from raiding redevelopment funds or shifting redevelopment funds to other state purposes.
"California voters have repeatedly supported statewide measures that dedicate the gas taxes we pay at the pump for transportation improvements," said Jim Earp, Executive Director of the California Alliance for Jobs and co-chair of Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services. "Despite this, year after year the Legislature exploits every loophole it can find to borrow or outright raid these critical funds. This measure will once and for all protect gas taxes from future raids and insure they are used to improve our roads, highways and transit systems – just like the voters intended."
Josh Shaw, Executive Director of the California Transit Association and Co-chair of the coalition said: "For eight years in a row, State politicians have redirected funding that's supposed to go to local public transportation services, like buses, commuter rail and shuttles. Even though we've warned these raids are illegal and the courts have ruled that such raids are illegal, there's no recourse, so the politicians continue to ignore the law and the will of the voters. In these trying times, it's vital that we protect public transit services for working families who have no other mode of transportation to and from work, school, health care facilities and other life responsibilities."
Jim Earp concluded: "We're confident that Californians will once-again vote to protect local taxpayer funds and transportation services from continued State raids."
