2004/09/14 City Council Resolution (15)RESOLUTION NO. 2004 — 221
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OR ROHNERT PARK
SUPPORTING PROPOSITION 1A
WHEREAS, state government currently seizes more than $5.2 billion annually in local property
tax funds statewide from cities, counties and special districts, costing local governments more than $40
billion in lost revenues over the past 12 years; and
WHEREAS, these ongoing shifts and raids by the state of local property tax funds and other
funding dedicated to local governments have seriously reduced resources available for local public safety
services, streets and parks maintenance, senior services, recreation programs, and other essential local
services; and
WHEREAS, these funding raids also add pressure for local governments to increase fees and
taxes to maintain basic local service levels; and
WHEREAS, this drain of local resources has continued even during periods when the state's
budget has been overflowing with surpluses; and
WHEREAS, Proposition IA is a historic measure that will appear on the November 2004
statewide ballot that would limit the State's ability to take and use local government funding; and
WHEREAS, by protecting local government funding, Prop IA would protect local public safety
and other essential local services; and
WHEREAS, Prop IA will not raise taxes and, in fact, will help reduce pressure for local fee and
tax increases by limiting state raids of local government funding; and
WHEREAS, Prop I does not reduce funding for schools or any other state program or service,
and Prop I was carefully written to allow flexibility in the event of a state budget emergency; and
WHEREAS, Prop lA is supported by a bipartisan, diverse coalition including Governor
Schwarzenegger, Democrat and Republican legislative leaders, local government officials, public safety
representatives, healthcare, business, labor and community leaders.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OR
ROHNERT PARK that we hereby express strong support for Proposition IA, the statewide ballot
initiative that will prevent the state from further taking local government revenues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council and staff are authorized to provide
impartial informational materials on the initiative as may be lawfully provided by the City's
representatives and no public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the initiative;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the residents of the City are encouraged to become well
informed on the initiative and its possible impact on the critical local services on which they rely;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby directed to send a copy of this
resolution to Yes on IA - Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Public Safety.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 14"' day of September, 2004.
ATTEST:
CHNERT P
FLORES: AYE
MACKENZIE: AYE
SPRADLIN: AYE
VIDAK- MARTINEZ: AYE
A NOrd1II NORDIN: AYE
AYES: (5) NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (0) ABSTAIN: (0)