HomeMy WebLinkAboutLa Malfa LetterSTATE CAPITOL
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SACRAMENTO. CA 95814
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SUI"{E 726
ROCKLIN, CA 95765
(91 6) 435-0744
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SUITE C
OROVILLE, CA 95965
(530) 532-5860
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SUITE C
REDDING, CA 96002
{530) 225-3 ] 42
1080 MA50N MALL
SUITE 4
CRESCENT CITY, CA 95531
(707} 464-1255
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SENATOR
DOUG LA MALFA
FOURTI-E SENATE DISTRICT
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COMMITTEES
NATURAL RESOURCES & WATER
VICE-CHAIR
ELECTIONS & CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
VICE-CHAIR
AGRICULTURE
BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW
GOVERNANCE & F[NANCE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
JOINT FAIRS, ALLOCATIONS &
CLASSIFICATIONS
CHAIR
August 5, 2011
BQARD Of Si1PERVISORS
Mr. Steve Lambert AUG 10 201'
25 County Center Dr Ste 200
Oroville, CA 95965-3365 ORDVILLE, CAl~fFORNfA
Dear Mr. Lambert:
Thank you for contacting my office to convey your views and concerns relative to the state budget.
The Legislature has sent the Governor a spending plan that relies on an additional $4 billion in
revenue and contains "triggers" to impose pre-set spending reductions in specific areas if
revenues do not materialize; however, it is important to note that the revenue assessment will not
be conducted until December and the "trigger" reductions will not take effect until February. The
remaining deficit will be rolled into next year's budget.
The sales, income and vehicle license fee increases imposed in 2oog expired as of July i, reducing
the average tax burden for a family of four by about $1,000 annually. Efforts to place afive-year
extension of the temporary taxes of 2oog could have been approved in both houses if an initiative
to reform state pensions and another to impose a hard spending cap based on population growth
and inflation were included on the same ballot. This effort was rejected. There was no agreement
on a "bridge tax" sought by the Governor, whereby the state would maintain the "temporary" tax
rates, continue to collect and keep any tax revenues collected before obtaining voter approval.
This proposal was unsupportable.
There are several provisions in the plan that may violate state law and will likely face litigation.
The budget contains a tax "flip" intended to shift revenue from one source to another while
avoiding the provisions of Proposition g8 (that requires that 40% of all new revenue be
appropriated for education). The budget also includes a $12 annual per-vehicle licensing "fee"
increase, and aper-dwelling State Recreation Area fire protection "fee" that will affect many of my
rural constituents. Since the funds collected are for a general purpose rather than used to provide
a direct benefit to the payer these "fees" are actually taxes that violate the intent of Proposition i3,
which requires atwo-thirds vote of approval of both houses of the Legislature. Proposition 26,
approved by voters last year, further clarified these limitations to prohibit public officials from
calling a tax a fee to avoid meeting the legal vote threshold.
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As the representative for the Fourth Senate District, my objective has been to represent the best
interests of the people I serve and to hold to the priorities that will bring lasting recovery and
long-term economic stability.
With regard to parks in particular, the Governor's budget includes General Fund reductions for
state parks of $xx million in ~oix-1~ and $~~ million ongoing. Furthermore, the budget includes
language that requires the department to achieve General Fund reductions through full or partial
park closures and service reductions. The Department of Parks and Recreation indicated that ~o
parks would be closed by July x, 2ox2, but the state would still retain g2 percent of today's
attendance, 94 percent of existing revenues, and keep 20$ parlts'open. The department has not
released all details specifying how the savings will be achieved, so the plan remains unclear. In
the meantime, my staff and I are still looking into creative means of keeping several popular parks
in the district open.
The department is now indicating that it will seek partnership agreements to keep as many parks
open as possible. These partnerships should have been created prior to deciding to close state
parks. It's been very clear since voters rejected Proposition 2x (VLF park fee) last year that the
department would need a new operating plan. Several legislators have offered alternatives which
would allow local governments ornon-profits to contract with the state to manage parks slated for
closure, but these have so far been rejected. Unfortunately, AS x2o, a trailer bill, will make it
easier for people to sue the state if they get hurt in closed or partially closed parks. Governor
Brown recently signed AB x2o into law.
Additional information on the closure process and a list of the parks slated for closure can be
found by accessing the following webpage:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/~x2/files/2oxxparkclosures_attachmentsaoxxo5x8.pdf
I trust this information is helpful. Please feel free to contact my office whenever my staff or I may
be of service.
Again, thank you for taking the time to relay your views on these important issues facing our
state.
Sincerely,
/ ~ ~-`
Doug LaMalfa
SENATOR, Fourth District
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