HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02021993 - S.3 (2) i
February 2 1 9 9 3 I t E2!m No
TH= S I TEM WAS APPROVED AS A
PART OF DETERM=NAT=ON =TEM
NO _ 2 - 1- AND :11 -<:3 I N C LUDED AS
AN ATTACHMENT TO THAT ORDER
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
l.lo Il^�,,+
ra
Sunne aright McPeak � +a
February 2, 1993 Costa
S
&CT: Authorization of Contra Costa County Staff to "1
Assist CSAC Task Force in Studying Feasibility of Placing Measures
on the June 1993 Ballot in All 58 Counties to Prevent the State
. From Taking Local Property Taxes to Balance Its Budget
IFIC REQUEST(s) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) A BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the County Administrator, County Counsel, Auditor, and
Treasurer-Tax Collector to provide technical assistance to the
CSAC (California State Association of Counties) Task Force co-
chaired by Supervisor McPeak to study the feasibility of placing
measures on the June 1993 ballot in all 58 counties that will
prevent the state from taking local property taxes away from
counties and fire services to balance the state budget. This.
would involve a concentration of time and effort for the next 30
to 45 days since the deadline for each county to place such a
measure on the ballot is mid-March.
BACKGROUND:
The Governor' s proposal to take $2.6 billion of property taxes
away from counties, special districts (particularly fire
districts) , and cities to balance the state budget is devastating _
to our ability to provide basic police and fire protection
services. We are committed to fiercely fighting this proposal.
Although we are moving ahead locally to plan for contingencies to
protect the public (including considering fire suppression
assessments if necessary) , we must devote sufficient energies to
finding a better solution if possible. I have identified one
such approach, but it will require concentrated research and
expertise to succeed. That is why I am requesting the Board's
authorization of assistance from Contra Costa County personnel to
the CSAC Task Force I co-chair. This task force is charged with
identifying the best strategies to achieve stable funding for
local government. I have reported to the Board in the past that
the Task Force has established a goal of working with the
Legislature through June 30, 1993, to seek adoption of essential
financial reform measures and then, if necessary, pursuing an
initiative for 1994. However, a new option has arisen:
organizing all 58 counties to place on the June 1993 ballot a
measure which instructs the local Treasurer-Tax Collector and
Auditor to collect and distribute local property taxes in
accordance with Proposition 13 and a specified formula (probably
AB 8) and prohibits them from doing anything else (such as !
complying with a bill passed by the Legislature and Governor to
'INUED ON ATTACHMRNTt YES SIONATUREt I
.RECOMMIENDATION Of COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION Of BOARD COMMITTEE
_APPROVE OTHER
i
4ATURE(S)
ON OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
'S OF SUPERVISORS
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS Is A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAINS AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED
Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board of
atact: Karen Mitchoff $upwvivsvWCourdyAdminkV t
• j
W E D 1 4 : M 6 S U P V S U N N E M C P E A K P . 0 3
? Page Two
take our property taxes) unless also voted upon by the
electorate. If we can get all 58 counties to place this measure
on the ballot and successfully secure a vote of the public to
instruct their elected Treasurer-Tax Collectors and Auditors to
disburse local property taxes in a specified manner, I think we
can legally block the Governor and Legislature from doing
otherwise. It also would relieve local taxpayers from having to
pay increased property tax_ assessments to sustain basic fire or
police services.