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~gup~~ BOARD QF SUPERVISORS BILLGONNELLY
~? ~ First District
~,~ # ADMINISTRATION CENTER , r LARRY WAHL
25 GOUNTY CENTER DRIVE SUITE 201] - OROVILLE CALIFORhiIA 95965 Second District
a''~...^..• TI=IEPHONE: (530) 538.7631
MAUREEN KIRK
Third District
STEVE LAMBERT
March 21, 2013 Fourth District
DOUG TEETER
Fifth Distr~t
. g4EIRD OF
The Honorable rohn A. Perez
Member, California State Assembly Z Jr 213
P. O. Box 942849
State Capital, Room 219 ~. QRI~q
Sacramento, CA 94249-0053
RE: Assembly Bill b39 {Perez) -SUPPORT
Dear Assembly Member Perez:
On behalf of the Butte County Boards of Supervisors, I am writing in SUPPORT of Assembly
Bill 639, which would provide California voters the opportunity to restructure the Proposition 12
$900 million veterans` bond program approved by the voters in 2008 to better meet the housing
and service needs of veterans, as well as the changing demographics of current veterans.
California is home to almost 2 miliian veterans, more than any other state in the nation. With the
winding down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an unprecedented number of California
veterans will return to our communities in need of housing and a vast array of services.
California also has a high number of homeless veterans with over 25°/a of the nation's homeless
veterans living here. The demographics of homeless veterans are changing and increasingly
female veterans and their children make up a greater percentage. To meet the changing face of
veterans in California, the Legislature must look at a comprehensive, coordinated and cost
effective approach to housing and services needs of our veterans.
Though approved in 2008, the full $900 million bond remains unspent, as does a portion of the
$S00 million band from Proposition 32 approved by the voters in 2000. California voters should
be given the opportunity to restructure the already approved handing level to meet current
veteran demographics and needs.
The provisions that will be brought to the voters would retain $300 million of the original
Proposition 12 funding for the Ca1Vet Farm and Home Program, while restructuring the'other
$600 million originally approved to allow for the construction and rehabilitation of multifamily
housing for veterans. 1'n addition, priority would be given to projects that align housing with
needed services.
rG
We appreciate your efforts for focal veterans through AB 639 and the Veterans Housing and
Homeless Prevention Act of 2014, and feel that the voters should be given the opportunity to
realign intent from 2008 with today's realities. We fully support your AB 639.
Sincerely,
Bill Connelly, Chair
Butte County Board of Supervisors
cc: arMembers of the Assembly Local Government Committee
v~The Honorable Brian Dahle, Member of California State Assembly
e Honorable Dan Lague, Member of California State Assembly
e Honorable Jim Nielsen, Member of Californa State Senate
embers, Board of Supervisors
CRC
ACS ;
aul Yoder, Strategic Local Government Solutions
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