Reso 1212-03/2004RESOLUTION NO. 1212
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
VALLECITOS WATER DISTRICT SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE
BALLOT INITIATIVE TO REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BEFORE
STATE GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE LOCAL TAX FUNDS
WHEREAS, state government currently seizes over $400 million in special district
property tax funds (ERAF) statewide, seriously reducing resources available for local public
services such as parks and recreation, police and fire protection, water and wastewater,
library and many others;
WHEREAS, in adopting the state budget this year the Legislature and Governor
appropriated local revenue streams such as the Vehicle License Fee (VLF), sales taxes
and property taxes that are needed to finance critical local services such as public safety,
parks, street maintenance, housing and economic development; and
WHEREAS, the state budget also relies on a deficit bond financing program that is
predicated on a local property and sales tax swap that leaves district services vulnerable
to future losses if the state's economic condition fails to improve; and
WHEREAS, the adopted budget assumes the state will continue to face an ongoing
structural budget deficit of at least $8 billion, putting local government financial resources
at risk in future years; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly clear that state will continue to use local tax funds to
balance the state budget unless the voters limit the power of the legislature and governor
to do so; and
WHEREAS, the voters of California are the best judges of whether local tax funds
should be diverted, confiscated, shifted or otherwise taken by the legislature to finance an
ever expanding state government; and
WHEREAS, at the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) annual
membership meeting held on September 16, 2003, voted to support a statewide ballot
initiative to empower the voters to limit the ability of state government to confiscate local
tax funds to fund state government; and
WHEREAS, CSDA has requested that special districts offer support for a November
2004 ballot initiative that will allow voters to decide whether state government may
appropriate local tax funds to fund state government operations and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
VALLECITOS WATER DISTRICT that the District hereby expresses its strong support for
a statewide ballot initiative to allow voters to decide whether local tax funds may be taken,
confiscated, shifted, diverted or otherwise used to fund state government operations and
Resolution No. 1212
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responsibilities; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Board of Directors and staff provide such
educational materials on the possible impacts of such an initiative as may be lawfully
provided by the district's representatives; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the constituents of the district are encouraged to
become well informed on the opportunities available to them through such an initiative to
safeguard the critical local services on which they rely; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the General Manager (or Board Secretary) is hereby
directed to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Executive Director of the California
Special Districts Association.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Vallecitos
Water District at a regular meeting held on the 17th day of March, 2004 by the following roll
call vote:
CRUZ, DAVY, FERGUSON, HANNAN, MASON
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Dale Mason, President
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District
ATTEST:
William W. Rucker, Secretary
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District