HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Senator Nielsn - budget STATE CAPITOL COMMITTEES
P.O.BOX 942849VICE CHAIR,APPROPRIATIONS
SACRAMENTO,CA 94249-0002 1 Asstlnthtv
JUDICIARY
(916)319-2002 .. + REVENUE AND TAXATION
FAX(916)319-2102 RULES
DISTRICT OFFICE ( �7
280 HEMSTED DRIVE,SUITE 110 sTnrt
REDDING,CA 96002
(530)223.6300 wb
FAX(530)223.6737 �u•a�°
EMAIL JIM NIELSEN
assembiymember.nielsen@assembly.ca.gon ASSEMBLYMEMBER,SECOND DISTRICT
May 20, 2009 rel'°SRV
��� ` jsORs
Butte County Board of Supervisors R
Chairman Bill Connelly
25 County Center Dr 1 i Lli.ORNIA
Oroville, CA 95965
Dear Chairman Connelly and Board Members:
As your representative in the State Assembly, I am writing to inform you of my strong
opposition to a component of Governor Schwarzenegger's recently released May
Revision Budget Proposal, a measure which proposes to borrow $2 billion from local
governments in response to the rejection of the May 19 ballot measures by California's
electorate.
In order to help close the state's budget deficit, the governor proposes suspending
Proposition 1A passed by voters in 2004; thereby allowing the state to divert to schools
up to.8 percent of property tax revenues from cities, counties and special districts. These
funds must be repaid within three years.
I do not support shifting the state's fiscal burden to local governments. County and city
governments are presently facing severe economic hardships and have already revised
adopted budgets to make significant cuts in personnel and critical programs. These deep
cuts include staff furloughs and layoffs.
The Legislature must get its fiscal act together, step up to the plate and make the
spending cuts that are difficult but critical in order to reduce the size of state government
and balance the budget. The state should not be balancing its budget by raiding the
coffers of local government.
The suspension of Proposition I requires legislative approval, and I will oppose any
effort to do so. For too long, the state has looked to local governments to implement its
policy dreams and solve our budget woes. The Legislature has exhausted its bag of fiscal
gimmicks and must get serious in running a state government that lives within its means.
Sincerely,
JIM NIELSEN
ASSEMBLYMAN, SECOND DISTRICT
cc: Butte County CAO
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