Cities, counties reel under Davis proposal- State budget fixes gut local services, they say

SF Chronicle ^ | 1/11/03 | Alan Gathright, Jason B. Johnson, Patrick Hoge, Chronicle Staff Writers

[randita]

Local elected leaders Friday angrily called the governor's proposal to shift vital services to cities and counties -- while stripping those agencies of $4.2 billion in vehicle fees -- a "shell game" that might be legally challenged.

Officials were incensed that a key piece of Gov. Gray Davis' plan to fix the $35 billion state shortfall was to renege on a 1998 state promise to not slash the vehicle license fee revenues that local governments rely on to pay for critical public safety and health services.

[randita]

something has hit the fan

[Kewlhand`tek]

californians should just suck it up, they are the ones that want to educate illegal aliens, with their policies the whole state will be a province of Mexico.

[goldstategop]

Already the teeth gnashing and wailing is making itself felt..

[joebuck]

"To pay for it all, he would give the local jurisdictions the revenue from a 1-cent boost in the sales tax, a $1.10-per-pack jump in cigarette tax and higher income taxes on wealthy Californians."

Remember, in liberal speak anyone making over $50K a year is "wealthy".

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[det dweller too]

I think the best answer to this whining is:
"Hey, you want it, you got it!"

[SierraWasp]

Well I told ya so. I told ya so. I told ya so!!!

This has Steve Peace written all over it. He convinced Pete Wilson to do the almost identical thing with the ERAF legislation in about 1992/1993.

"The Buck Stops Here" just as soon as we shove the budget item down to the 58 COUNTIES and 450 CITIES and 5000+ SPECIAL DISTRICTS!!! !!! !!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

But, but ... well see this:

California: Public unfazed by hikes (Budget Crisis )

[SierraWasp]

Don't tax you... And don't tax me...
Tax that man... Behind that tree...

Well... This just proves that Damnocrat Davis doesn't want any smokers to make too much money or buy too much stuff in his empire!!!

Which also means that smokers won't have any money left to buy much of anything since they'll lose their enthusiasm for making a lot of money.

That is, unless, they incorporate in NV, buy 6 cartons when they go to Reno and shop at WALMART & SAMS CLUB in Medford, OR when they go there. Oh, and they should gas up in either place as there's no MTBE in their gasoline!!!

I guess northern CA folks could look upon these as fringeborder benefits, as of now.

Ernesto... That link read like a bunch of frogs about halfway to a full boil!!!

[marsh2]

One of our County Supervisors said that only about 6-10% of the County budget may be spent at the Board's discretion. The services this money must fund is police, fire, public health. The rest is already allocated for programs by the state legislature. If they devolve administration for these pet state entitlement programs back to the county, we will be unable to fund the basic services for which government is instituted in the first place.

I know that our volunteer fire departments will close their doors if they do no get help on workers comp and training costs as mandated by the recent union-inspired law on training requirements.

I also know that the state legislature handed the counties the new responsibility to be the "employer of record" for the in-home services work force (those who do shopping, maintenance and personal services for the elderly/disabled.)
This will require a new administrative force.

I think the Davis plan might be challengeable.

I think we also need to re-examine what services government should provide beyond protection of public health and safety, security of property and common infrastructure (roads.)

[SierraWasp]

"I think the Davis plan might be challengeable."

As do I, in fact, many things since the Reagan Governorship could be, if only your County Attorneys, CSAC's attournys, RCRC's attourneys and their respective "Executive Directors" were not so afraid of some imagined retrobution if we all (County Boards) didn't have an "air-tight" enough case.

There are numerous other powerful forces that kick in at the slightest hint of any County revolt, coming in any form, legalistic or otherwise. They start smearing ambitious, newly elected BOS members with tags like "County Supremacy Advocates," etc.

Our EE's union, for which I harbor some contempt, even began to side with me as I expressed sentiments that I took what Governor Wilson succumbed to as an easy way out, quite personally and was ready to lead a very public demonstration and look hard into a legal challenge.

As usual, my colleagues flinched and thought of a hundred other higher priorities. There's this old taboo that one governmental body shouldn't be attacking another, even in self-defense, that I just couldn't shake my colleagues out of.

Remember how upset Davis was that MWD "gouged" the Dept. of Water Resources to a greater degree than the gawd-awful ENRON, "The Crooked 'E'!" He just was aghast that "a sister governmental entity could do such a thing!" And so it goes.

I wish you great luck and much fortitude in mixing politics with principle. I pray you will be able to keep even those closest supporters actually interested in what you are trying to accomplish and not begin doubting you.

Most of all, I hope you can contain your adversaries and not fire them up to work against your re-election until it's too late for them to ever do so. I will tell you... they have zero sense of humor and cannot tolerate any direct challenge or any losing of face without it creating abject motivated hatred. They really don't care a thing about "fairness," especially in stealth politics.

Even the Bible says we should be gentle as doves, but wise as serpents! Now that's good advice!!!

[marsh2]

I decided that if I did not get the chance to run again that this was ok. As long as I do what I sincerely believe is the right thing for honest reasons, that is enough for me. I have managed to find work for 30 years. I can always work as a file clerk - lol.

[Grampa Dave]

It will be interesting this week to read what the local rats say as they realized the $crewing that Herr Davi$ is planing for the cities and counties with his smoke and mirrors budget game.

As Ernest noted the feel good articles about increased sales taxes and income taxes are out there from the lying lunatic mediots.

The reality of what Davi$ has done to this state while start to creep in this week. Last night after church a pseudo conservative couple (they mouth the line and voted for Davis as they were in law enforcement and they got big raises when Davis gave the kitchen sink to the prison guards and others) were moaning and groaning. Apparently the raises that they were promised this year and coming years are in danger. I just laughed at them and asked if they enjoyed their 40 pieces of Silver from Herr Davi$.

[ErnBatavia]

californians should just suck it up, they are the ones that want to educate illegal aliens

Make that say one or two JUDGES want to educate the illegals. We've voted, by large majority, to stop this silliness, but the legal beagles of the left always get the will of the people declared unconstitutional.

[NormsRevenge]

Davi$ and the demRatic socialzits made this me$$, let 'em clean it up!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I think we also need to re-examine what services government should provide beyond protection of public health and safety, security of property and common infrastructure (roads.)

Perhaps this would also mean a discontinuation of local and state grants to Leftist 501(c) tax-exempt corporations who play the political campaign funding shell game to elect and appoint the wacko Leftists to local municipal bodies and regional boards?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

And with estimates that services such as auto repair and dry cleaning now account for two-thirds of the economy, Szalay called for levying a sales tax on them, which could reduce the overall sales tax rate.

Selective taxation. Bill of attainder?

[Glenn]

I just love it when there is infighting amongst the inbred. So entertaining watching them claw at one another over a morsel that really never belonged to them in the first place.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

"The Buck Stops Here" just as soon as we shove the budget item down to the 58 COUNTIES and 450 CITIES and 5000+ SPECIAL DISTRICTS!!! !!! !!!

Gotta love it. The 5000+ special districts are the result of municipal governments not willing to live up to their duties and take responsibility for what they were created to do...