HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-069Resolution
OF THE COUNTY OF BUTTE
FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA JOBS INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, the unemployment rate in California has risen to over twelve percent, representing
more than 2.2 million persons without jobs; and
WHEREAS, California and its citizens are suffering from a prolonged economic recession that
has seen the state's budget deficits escalate to tens of billions of dollars and are projected by the
Legislative Analyst's Office to remain so far years to come; and
WHEREAS, California families have been struggling under the weight of job losses, home
foreclosures, tax increases, utility rate increases and other financial burdens that threaten their ability to
make ends meet; and
WHEREAS, regulations related to the implementation of AB 32 are projected to increase the
cast of energy, fuel, housing and other essential goods and services by billions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, AB 3Z-related regulations are also projected to impose tax increases and new taxes
and fees in the tens of billions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, these costs will force California businesses to raise consumer prices, lay off
workers, dawnsize their operations, leave the state or go out of business altogether; and
WHEREAS, these severe impacts on business are projected to eliminate over 1 million
California jobs; and
WHEREAS, the California Air Resources Board and others have determined that AB 32's
higher energy costs and job losses will disproportionately impact low-income families and small
businesses; and
WHEREAS, California is the only state currently moving ahead with regulations of this nature;
and
WHEREAS, the federal government and other nations are not planning to adopt climate change
regulations commensurate with those pending implementation under California's AB 32; and
WHEREAS, the California Air Resources Board has acknowledged that California acting alone
can have no impact on global warming; and
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WHEREAS, the implementation of AB 32 at this time will do nothing to mitigate worldwide
climate change; and
WHEREAS, the California Jobs Initiative, a statewide ballot measure, was submitted on
December 22, 2009 to the California Attorney General for potential placement on California's
November 2010 statewide ballot; and
WHEREAS, the Butte County Board of Supervisors supports temporarily suspending
implementation of AB 32 until California's unemployment rate drops to reasonable historical levels; and
WHEREAS, stringent laws and regulations that protect California's air and water quality and
the health of its citizens would remain intact under the California Jobs Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the California Jobs Initiative would protect over a million jobs and spare families,
taxpayers, businesses, consumers and the state's economy as a whole billions of dollars in higher taxes,
energy costs and other expenses at a time they can least afford it;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Butte, in the interest of protecting this jurisdiction, its citizens and the state from massive job losses,
unaffordable utility rate increases, and other economic harm, hereby endorses the California Jobs
Initiative.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 11th day of May, 2010 by
the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Lampert; xamaguchi, and Chair ConnPll;r
NOES: SupF_rvisor Doi«n
ABSENT:
NOT VOTING: Supervisor Kirk
Bill Connelly, Chair of e
Butte County Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
Scott Tandy, Irate ~ Chief Administrative Officer
and Clerlc of the $'oard o~ Supervisors
By