HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10131987 - 3.2 City of San Ramon _
2222 Camino Ramon
San Ramon. California 94583-1350
(415) 866.1400
September 25, 1987
Honorable Sunne McPeak, Chair
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street ,
Martinez, California 94553
Dear Supe 'sor McPeak:
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with comments
from the San Ramon City Council regarding SB709, the Trial Court
Funding Act. In particular, we want to express our sincere hope
that the County exercises its option..to come under the Trial
Court Funding System beginning with Fiscal Year 1988-89, the year
in which the Act becomes operative.
The San Ramon City Council recognizes that it is in our
self-interest that we ask the County to opt into the Trial Court
Funding System, and that the County would have certainly
preferred that the legislation pass without the provisions
concerning tax revenue transfers to low property tax cities.
However, we would like to make the following points concerning
the legislation:
(1) The legislation benefits both cities and counties. - As it
was finally adopted, the Trial Court Funding Act provides an
increase in property tax allocation to only a limited number
of cities, with an increase in revenues transferred to the
County through increased trial court funding. Although the
legislation appears to be a "take-away" from the County, this
is, perhaps, only because the County's expectations from the
legislation were -much higher than that which was actually
passed. We understand that the overall effect on the County
will be a net increase in revenues available for meeting the
needs of County residents.
(2) The legislation will improve trial court services in the
County. - The legislation increases both the number of
Appellate Court judges and Superior Court judges in Contra
Costa County, with a comparable increase in funding for the
additional judgeships.
Honorable Sunne McPeak September 25, 1987
(3) We are cognizant of the County's financial plight but believe
that most cities within Contra Costa County, including the
City of San Ramon, are equally in need of additional
financing sources. - The City of San Ramon, as a recently
incorporated City, is attempting to serve a growing
commercial and residential population on .an operating level,
while also embarking on an extremely ambitious and costly
capital improvements program. This program is intended to
provide parks and transportation improvements which will
benefit residents of our City and our sphere. At this time,
we have yet to determine how these very necessary
improvements will be financed.
In urging your action to come under the Trial Court Funding
System, we recognize that your financial situation is a difficult
one and that, perhaps, you were looking for more positive action
from the State in the form of a long-term funding solution. We
wish to emphasize, however, that we don't believe it to be
appropriate for the cities and the County to debate the question
of which local agency is most in need of additional funding.
Instead, we should each cooperate with the other in attempting to
improve revenues and levels of service at all levels of local
government which will benefit all residents of the County.
Again, we urge you to exercise your option to come under the
Trial Court Funding system beginning with fiscal year 1988-89.
Sincerely,
' hn Meakin
ayor