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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RESO 2009-124RESOLUTION NO. 2009 — 124 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY FINDING A SEVERE FISCAL HARDSHIP WILL EXIST IF ADDITIONAL CITY PROPERTY TAX FUNDS ARE SEIZED, AND ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE ADOPTED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WHEREAS, the current economic crisis has placed cities under incredible financial pressure, and caused city officials to reopen already adopted budgets to make painful cuts, including layoffs and furloughs of city workers, decreasing maintenance and operations of public facilities, and reductions in direct services to keep spending in line with declining revenues; and WHEREAS, since the early 1990's the state government of California has seized over $8.6 billion of city property tax revenues statewide to fund the state budget even after deducting public safety program payments to cities by the State; and WHEREAS, in FY 2007-08 alone the State seized $895 million in city property taxes statewide to fund the state budget after deducting public safety program payments, and an additional $350 million in local redevelopment funds were seized in FY 2008-09; and WHEREAS, the most significant impact of taking local property taxes has been to reduce the quality of public safety services cities can provide since public safety comprises the largest part of any city's general fund budget; and WHEREAS, in 2004 the voters, by an 84% vote margin, adopted substantial constitutional protections for local revenues, but the legislature can still "borrow" local property taxes to fund the State budget; and WHEREAS, on May 5, 2009, the Department of Finance announced it had proposed to the Governor that the State "borrow" over $2 billion in local property taxes from cities, counties, and special districts to balance the State budget, causing deeper cuts in local public safety and other vital services; and WHEREAS, in the past, the Governor has called such "borrowing" proposals fiscally irresponsible because the State will find it virtually impossible to repay, and it would only deepen the State's structural deficit, preventing the State from balancing its budget; and WHEREAS, the Legislature is currently considering hundreds of bills, many of which would impose new costs on local governments that can neither be afforded nor sustained in this economic climate; and WHEREAS, State agencies are imposing, or considering, many regulations imposing unfunded mandates on local governments without regard to how local agencies will be able comply with these mandates while meeting their other responsibilities; and WHEREAS, the combined effects of the seizure of the City's property taxes, increasing unfunded State mandates, and the revenue losses due to the economic downturn have placed the City of National City's budget under serious fiscal pressure; and Resolution No. 2009 — 124 June 2, 2009 Page 2 WHEREAS, National City simply can not sustain the loss of any more property tax funds or be saddled with any more State mandates, as they will only deepen the financial challenge facing our City; and WHEREAS, a number of the City's financial commitments arise from contracts, including long-term capital leases and debt obligations which support securities in the public capital markets, that the City must honor in full unless modified by mutual agreement of the parties. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of National City has determined that the City will experience a severe fiscal hardship if the recommendation of the Department of Finance to "borrow" $2 billion of local property taxes is supported by the Governor and the Legislature. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council strongly and unconditionally opposes the May 5 proposal of the Department of Finance and any other State government proposals to borrow or seize any additional local funds, including the property tax, redevelopment tax increment, and the City's share of the Prop. 42 transportation sales tax. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council strongly urges the State legislature and Governor to suspend the enactment of any new mandates on local governments until such time as the economy has recovered, and urges the State to provide complete funding for all existing and new mandates. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to the Governor, our State senator(s), our State assembly member(s) and the League of California Cities. PASSED and ADOPTED this 2nd day of June, 2 n Morrison, Mayor ATTEST: ael R. Dalla,'City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: George H.'Eiser, Ill City Attorney Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on June 2, 2009 by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Councilmembers Parra, Sotelo-Solis, Van Deventer, Zarate. Nays: None. Absent: Councilmember Morrison. Abstain: None. AUTHENTICATED BY: RON MORRISON Mayor of the City of National City, California City lerk of the City of National City, California By: Deputy I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of RESOLUTION NO. 2009-124 of the City of National City, California, passed and adopted by the Council of said City on June 2, 2009. City Clerk of the City of National City, California By: Deputy