Editor's Note
For a printable copy of City Advocate Weekly (previously Priority Focus) please visit the League Web site.
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League of California Cities Opposes Proposed Shotgun “Loan” of City Funds to Bail Out the State Budget
Proposal is Reckless and Threatens Californians’ Public Safety
Just as mayors and city councils statewide slash city budgets and reduce services to deal with the worst economic crisis in decades, they learned Thursday that state leaders may try to coerce local governments into providing a forced $2 billion bailout of the state budget if the May 19 ballot measures fail. The May Revise option released by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday, May 14, containing that bailout, or “loan,” essentially forces cities to rescue the state from its financial quagmire and would cripple city services. To take money from cash-strapped cities now amounts to a profound “anti-stimulus” action by the state.
[FULL STORY]
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Summary of May Budget Revise Proposals
The League has examined both of the May Budget Revise proposals released by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday, May 14. The proposals are contingent on the outcome of the May 19 special election. Originally scheduled for release May 28, the Governor moved up the May Revise to May 14 because he wanted voters to understand the dire choices facing the state budget.
[FULL STORY]
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Governor Called Urgent Meetings with City Officials to Discuss Impact of Borrowing
Earlier this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held roundtable meetings with approximately 50 city officials to discuss Propositions 1A-F and the impact of their failure on state and local services. League President and Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell joined the Governor at the meeting he held on Monday in Culver City. Tuesday, the Governor held a meeting in San Jose which included Campbell Council Member Dan Furtado and Brisbane Mayor Sepi Richardson. (See the full list of who attended below.) Chris McKenzie, League executive director, also participated in both meetings. The League endorsed the May 19 special election ballot propositions on April 6 to help prevent a deeper state fiscal crisis and to enact some long-term state budget reforms.
[FULL STORY]
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California Cities Begin Declaring State of Severe Fiscal Hardship
Dozens Expected to Follow Suit in Coming Days
On Monday, May 11, the first of many cities across California declared a state of severe fiscal hardship and opposed a proposal to take local property tax funds to finance the state budget. These actions reflect the impacts that the stagnating economy has had on California’s cities due to serious declines in local tax revenues. Across the state, many cities are enacting drastic cuts to their budgets including public safety reductions, employee layoffs, hiring freezes, project delays, program reductions and more.
[FULL STORY]
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Local Associations Plan State Governance Reform Summit
Restoring Local Control Will Be Focus of Summit July 17-18
Whatever the outcome of the May 19 statewide special election, there is a growing belief among Californians and local government leaders that
[FULL STORY]
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CalPERS Board Debates Methods to Ease Economic Pressures on Employer Contribution Rates
The economic downturn has caused the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to lose a $100 billion in its investment portfolio. The CalPERS board and staff have begun serious talks about what the losses will mean for public agency employer contribution rates. These losses will have a significant impact on what city employers will be required to pay into the CalPERS pension fund beginning in FY 2011-12. The PERS Board is exploring methods to ease the blow to contribution rates because many cities are straining to meet financial obligations.
[FULL STORY]
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Bill Could Double Local Government Costs for Public Safety Personnel with Cancer
The League opposes AB 128 (Coto), a bill which would change the current cancer presumption law for public safety personnel. Police and fire are covered under the current workers’ compensation law, which provides a presumption for a cancer related injury for up to five years post-employment. A presumptive injury, illness, or disease under workers’ compensation presumes that the injury, illness, or disease occurred out of or in the course of employment. The burden of proof for a non-presumptive injury lies with the employee, but with presumptive injuries the employer must prove that the injury was caused by circumstances other than employment. Additionally, case law has made it impossible for employers to rebut a cancer presumption.
[FULL STORY]
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Apply for Funding from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently issued a notice of funding availability for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The program was established by the Federal Housing Economic and Recovery Act of 2008 and provides $3.9 billion to various entities (including local governments) to purchase abandoned or foreclosed homes. Cities can use this money to rehabilitate communities affected by the housing crisis. The enacting law also requires any homes purchased with NSP funds to be sold or rented to low or moderate income families.
[FULL STORY]
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Register Now for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Webcast
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a series of webcasts and online resources on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The next webcast will focus on the EECBG application process and is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, from 12-1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. DOE plans to repeat this webcast weekly, as needed.
[FULL STORY]
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Upcoming Events
May
15 Last day for policy committees to hear and report nonfiscal Assembly bills to the Assembly floor.
15 California Department of Water Resources Regional Workshop: North Lahontan Region – Susanville. The draft workshop agenda is available online.
20 EECBG Planning and Strategy Development, 12 – 1:30 p.m. pacific time. This webcast will focus on the EECBG
application process. DOE plans to repeat this webcast weekly, as needed. To register for either of these
webcasts, visit to EECBG Web site.
21 California Department of Water Resources Regional Workshop: Delta Area of Interest - Antioch. The draft workshop agenda is available online.
28 California Department of Water Resources Regional Workshop: North Coast Region (proposed) - Yreka. The draft workshop agenda is available online.
29 Last day for fiscal committees to hear and report
June
5 Last day for Assembly to pass Assembly bills
15 Budget Bill must be passed by Midnight
Upcoming League Events:
May
27-30 Mayors and Council Members Executive Forum, San Diego
June
3 Budget Action Day, Sacramento
[FULL STORY]
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