League of California Cities Priority Focus Editions #42 dated November 7 2008 #43 dated November 14 2008 and #44 dated November 21 2008. IN THIS ISSUE: Page 6: Despite Economy Most Local Revenue Measures Succeed Page 7: November VLF Payments to Cities Suspended Propositions 84 and 1E Funding Available to Cities Page 8: DHS Announces Guide $3 Billion Plus of Preparedness Grant Programs Assembly Bill 32: Implementing California s Climate Change Challenge Find a Bill Legislators Leg Committee or Ask League Leg Staff Page 10: CalTRUST Handling Financial Storm November 7 2008 Issue #42 2008 ELECTION RESULTS: RESULTS ON STATE MEASURES WITH LEAGUE BOARD POSITIONS The League s board of directors examined the eight of the 12 measures on the Nov. 4 2008 ballot with potential impacts for cities. A significant factor in the League taking no position on several of the measures was related to concerns over impacts to the state budget. Below are results of these eight measures. For more see Page 5. GOVERNOR PROPOSES CUTS TAX INCREASES AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO ADDRESS MASSIVE REVENUE SHORTFALL No Borrowing of Local Property Tax or Gas Tax Revenues Proposed: No Additional Revenue Grabs Contemplated Having called the Legislature back for a special session on Wednesday Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held a press conference on Thursday to release his proposed solution to the state s $11.2 billion shortfall for this fiscal year. This proposal which contains cuts taxes and an economic stimulus plan comes just six weeks after the Legislature passed and he signed the FY 2008 09 budget. The Governor cited the extreme volatility in the stock market decreases in consumer spending and the housing slump as causes for the drop in California s revenues. For more see Page 2. FORMER LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REMAIN FORCE IN LEGISLATURE WITH NOVEMBER ELECTION RESULTS Although term limits required many state legislative seats to change hands in Tuesday s election the trend of legislators coming from loc...
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