The League of California Cities has endorsed Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s effort to take control of the state budget, but
only after the governor made veiled threats that cities up and down
the state will suffer most if voters don’t approve Proposition 76
on Nov. 8.
The League of California Cities has endorsed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s effort to take control of the state budget, but only after the governor made veiled threats that cities up and down the state will suffer most if voters don’t approve Proposition 76 on Nov. 8.
The league voted 135-124 to support the measure, which would give the governor the ability to unilaterally cut the state budget and make some school and community college funding now guaranteed by state law subject to annual review. The vote took place during the league’s annual convention Oct. 5 – 8 at Moscone Center West in San Francisco.
The vote came after Schwarzenegger warned that local governments could be the losers in future state budgets if the measure doesn’t pass.
Hollister’s delegate, Councilman Brad Pike, cast a neutral vote.
“That was the recommendation from the league,” he said. “And since we didn’t have a chance to go over it with the council, we stayed neutral.”
City Manager Clint Quilter said that he was personally neutral in his thoughts about Prop. 76.
“The league has analyzed it, and it’s really a toss-up as to whether it’s good for cities or not,” he said.
Before the league’s endorsement, the measure, which the governor has called the centerpiece of his “year of reform” agenda, had been criticized by the Democratic mayors of Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco and is showing scant support among voters.
A poll released last month by the Public Policy Institute of California showed 63 percent of voters opposed the measure and just 26 percent supporting it.
With the details of how the measure would work still unknown or confusing to many voters, Schwarzenegger does not delve into specifics in his campaign appearances, focusing instead on what might happen if the measure fails. He has hinted repeatedly that he could be forced to raise taxes to plug the state’s $7.5-billion budget hole if Proposition 76 fails.
The measure, dubbed the “Live Within Our Means Act” by supporters, would limit state spending to an average of the previous three years’ revenue. It would also give the governor new authority to cut spending and would repeal Proposition 98, which guaranteed school funding levels.
Democrats and their allied labor unions, including the California Teachers Association, have campaigned hard against Proposition 76, saying it would slash education funding to unacceptable levels and give the governor too much say over spending decisions.
“Our state can’t afford Prop. 76 because it makes a bad situation worse in Sacramento,” said Kathy Steinberg, director of education with the California PTA. “It does away with any incentives for the governor and the legislature to work together.”
Staff writer Luke Roney and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
