Assemblyman Sim
ón Salinas hopes his reappointment to chair the Assembly’s Local
Government Committee will help heal the sometimes confrontational
relationship between local and state government.
Hollister – Assemblyman Simón Salinas hopes his reappointment to chair the Assembly’s Local Government Committee will help heal the sometimes confrontational relationship between local and state government.
Salinas (D-Salinas), who was reappointed to the position late last week, said one of his major goals for the new term is to help local governments recapture some of the revenue they lost in last year’s agreement with the governor that shifted $1.3 billion from cities and counties to help California balance its budget.
“Because of his background he actually understands how local government works and is in a key position to make sure gains from Proposition 1A are maintained,” said Pat Leary, a legislative representative for the California State Association of Counties, which frequently meets with Salinas to discuss local government issues. Salinas served on Monterey County Board of Supervisors and was mayor of Salinas before being elected in 2000.
Proposition 1A was the law passed by voters in November that solidified an agreement between Governor Schwarzenegger and local governments throughout the state. The agreement will take $2.6 billion over two years from cities and counties in exchange for legislation that prohibits the state from raiding local tax coffers in the future. The City of Hollister, for example, gave $284,000 to help balance the $17 billion state budget this year and San Benito County gave close to a $500,000.
The relationship between cities, counties and the state has been rocky in recent years, as local governments didn’t always agree about handing over needed tax revenue to balance the state’s budget. However, Salinas said in light of the recently passed Proposition 1A, both sides are ready to work for the common good for all residents of the state.
“The spirit of cooperation is in the budget,” said Salinas. He added that he was prepared to work hard to develop support for bills that reflected the needs of his district.
Although Proposition 1A does help protect local revenues, Salinas said it also affects the state’s ability to fund other programs, especially grants. One example is the loss of a $500,000 state grant at the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department next fiscal year. The Sheriff’s Department hopes that the money can be replaced through lobbying, although there are no guarantees.
“If we don’t get the money we’ll have to look at eliminating a lieutenant in the South County office, as well as a school resource and a correctional officer,” said Lt. Patrick Turturici, the spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department.
The League of California Cities, an association of city officials throughout the state, said Salinas was well-poised to bring local governments together with the state to talk about crucial issues facing them.
“He…insists that all the parties involved, including local governments, reach beyond old ideas that have not worked in the past and instead seek practical and tangible solutions to the affordable housing crisis,” said a statement from the group, which selected Salinas as one of two top legislators in the state.
The assemblymember is in his third and final term representing the 28th Assembly District, which includes San Benito County and parts of Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
