League of California Cities City Advocate Weekly Editions Issue #24 dated June 26 2009 and Issue #25 dated July 2 2009. IN THIS ISSUE: Page 4: Local Government Summit on Governance and Fiscal Reform Page 5: SaveYourCity.net Reaches 500 Video Testimonial Milestone Page 6: New and Improved WesternCity.com Launches June 27 Senate Local Government Committee Set to Hear Municipal Bankruptcy Bill on July 8 Support Needed for SB 268 Legislators Ask to Hear from City Fire Departments US EPA Announces Climate Showcase Communities Grant Opportunity Page 7: Registration Open for ILG Annual Conference Luncheon Symposium June 26 2009 Issue #24 2009 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES BOARD VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO CHALLENGE RAID OF LOCAL GAS TAX FUNDS Bypass of Voter Approved Ballot Propositions at Issue More than 100 city officials joined with the League of California Cities board of directors to announce the board s unanimous vote to take legal action if necessary to challenge the constitutionality of a key component of the budget proposed by the Budget Conference Committee to seize $1.7 billion of the local share of the highway users or gas tax that is used to maintain local streets and roads. The announcement was made at a press conference on Thursday June 25 in the Sacramento Convention Center during the League s policy committee meetings. For more see Page 2. NEW FISCAL YEAR LOOMS WITHOUT BUDGET Stopgap Bill Proposed One Year Transfer of Redevelopment Funds As the League convened its June policy committee meetings in Sacramento across the street at the Capitol the Assembly passed but the Senate halted three bills intended to keep the state from having to issue IOUs. The three bills would raise approximately $5 billion enough according to Budget Chair Assembly Member Noreen Evans (D Santa Rosa) to provide the state the ability to pay its bills through July and August. For more see Page 3. 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS DUE BY JULY 17 Policy development is an integral part of the Le...
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