HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-43RESOLUTION 2005-43
RESOLUTION OPPOSING SUSPENSION OF PROPOSITION 42 FUNDS
BY THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH HEREBY FINDS, DECLARES,
AND RESOLVES THAT:
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 was overwhelmingly approved (70%) by the voters in
2002, whereby said Proposition effected a constitutional permanent shift of the sales
tax on motor vehicle fuels from the State General Fund to the Transportation
Investment Fund for transportation purposes; and
WHEREAS, these funds in the Transportation Investment Fund are to be divided
as follows: (1) 40% to the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), (2) 20%
to cities for street maintenance and rehabilitation, (3) 20% to counties for road
maintenance and rehabilitation, and (4) 20% to the Public Transit Account (PTA) for a
variety of transit programs; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 helps make our roads safer and reduces congestion
without higher taxes by requiring that gasoline taxes we already pay be used to
maintain and improve mass transit, highways, and local streets and roads; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42
transportation funding that makes
transportation needs; and
provides a stable and ongoing source of
it possible to address existing and future
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 guarantees funds to every city and county to help fix
potholes, repair dangerous road conditions, and improve the safety of children walking
or biking to school; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties put these dollars to work immediately, thereby
saving taxpayers four to five times the cost of deferring maintenance; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties have an impeccable record of spending these
types of dollars, expending 98% of monies directly on an annual basis over the last
10 years; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 helps speed up highway safety and traffic congestion
relief projects, and expand and improve mass transit systems; and
WHEREAS, by accelerating transportation projects, thousands of new
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construction and related jobs are created, our economy is stimulated, and every dollar
invested in our highways results in almost six times that in overall economic benefit;
and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 is based on the principle that taxes paid at the pump
should be used for transportation purposes; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislature has suspended the allocation of Proposition
42 funds to their intended purposes which has violated the public trust, ignored the will
of the people on this issue, and violates the contract between voters and their elected
State representatives; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ukiah lost approximately $59,000 in funding in
FY 2003/04, is losing another $63,000 this year, and stands to lose another $68,000 in
rehabilitation funding in FY 2005/06 if Proposition 42 is again suspended; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 suspensions to date have rendered $1.8 million
unavailable to the Mendocino Council of Governments for programming State
Transportation Improvement Program projects in Mendocino County, with an additional
$1.2 million becoming unavailable if Proposition 42 is suspended in FY 2005/06; and
WHEREAS, without Proposition 42 monies being available for California
transportation, the current 12-cent gas tax that goes to the state and the 6-cent gas tax
dedicated to cities and counties is insufficient to even maintain the existing street, road,
and freeway system; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 42 monies are critical to city street and county road
systems, that together represent 82% of all publicly maintained miles in California,
providing a critical component in a seamless transportation system for the public,
commerce, transit operations, and farm-to-market trips throughout California; and
WHEREAS, the California Transportation Commission Annual Report to the
California Legislature states "California's transportation program is in crisis and on the
verge of collapse"; and
WHEREAS, today over $5.5 billion in transportation funds have been diverted to
offset the State's General Fund deficits over the past 3 years, with this figure growing
by another $1.3 billion should Proposition 42 funds be borrowed again in FY 2005/06;
and
WHEREAS, the Governor's proposal to repay Proposition 42 funds, with no interest,
over a 15-year period starting in F.Y. 2007/08 will ensure that restored funding will be
only a fraction as effective as it would if available now.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The City Council of the City of Ukiah hereby supports the intended purpose of
Proposition 42, which puts transportation dollars to work, saves taxpayers money, and
improves the efficiency of the state's transportation system. Furthermore, the City
Council declares its opposition to any further diversion, suspension, or borrowing of
Proposition 42 funds from transportation to the State General Fund.
This Resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Ukiah City Council held on April
6, 2005, by the following votes:
AYES:
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilmembers Crane, McCowen, Rodin, Baldwin, and Mayor Ashiku
~l'ark Ashiku, Mayo'i;
ATTEST:
!
Marie Ulvila, City Clerk
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