Resolution 12032CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 12032
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ALAMEDA RELATING TO
STATE BUDGET ACTIONS ADVERSELY AFFECTING CITIES.
WHEREAS, after the longest budget stalemate in
California's history, the Governor and California Legislature
finally enacted a 1990-91 Budget Package that shifts state and
county costs to cities, and diverts city revenues to finance
state/county responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, counties are an administrative arm of the state
with responsibilities for carrying out state programs being their
primary function, while cities are in a different business of
providing local municipal services and have no responsibility or
authority for administering state or county-wide programs; and
WHEREAS, all 457 cities in California balanced their
budgets, after making difficult decisions to cut municipal services
and/or raise local revenues, only to find that their budgets were
subsequently thrown out of balance by cost shifts and revenue
losses designed to balance budgets of the state and counties; and
WHEREAS, the most egregious actions in the State Budget
Package were enacted by passage of SB 2557 (Chapter 466, Statutes
of 1990) , which (1) directed counties to charge cities, for the
county function of administering the property tax; and (2)
authorized counties to charge cities for booking prisoners arrested
by city employees; and
WHEREAS, the Governor and California Legislature have
avoided their financial responsibilities by enacting measures that
are poor public policy, take money from one local government to
finance another, and result in no real solution to the continuing
financial problems facing all levels of government in California;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council for the
City of Alameda agrees that SB 2557 is to be repealed or replaced
to permanently protect cities from the state budget process, and
that alternatives be supported that will provide adequate funding
for state and county-wide programs without adversely affecting
cities. To accomplish this the City of Alameda supports the
comprehensive program adopted by the League of California Cities
which includes among other things:
A local grassroots effort throughout the state, with
each city communicating with their members of the
State Assembly and Senate, as well as the candidates
for Governor, regarding the need to remove cities
from the state budget process and how SB 2557 has
adversely affected their city.
2. The folmation of a coalition with counties, schools
and special districts to repeal SB 2557 and replace
it with meaningful fiscal reform that will allow
each level of government to adequately finance their
service responsibilities, with each being
accountable to taxpayers for their own programs.
3. Pursuit .of state reimbursement for the cost of
shifting county financial responsibilities to
cities, as well as other legal remedies as
appropriate.
4. A comprehensive communications program to inform the
redia, legislators, and the general public of city
concerns and objectives relative to the 1990-91
State Budget's cost and revenue shifts affecting
cities.
5. An intensive effort in Sacramento to seek
repeal/replacement of SB 2557.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by
the Council of the City of Alameda in adjourned regular
rneeting assembled on the 7th of November 1990
by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Arnerich, Camicia, Thomas, Withrow
and President Corica - 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the official seal of said City this 8th day of
November, 1990.
r
Diane F lsch, City Clerk
City of Alameda