Peace Officers Research Association of California Endorses Ballot Measure to Stop State Raids of Local Government Funds Used to Finance Public Safety Services

Measure Headed for November 2010 Statewide Ballot Would Protect Funding for Local Public Safety, Emergency Response, Transportation, Transit and Other Vital Local Services '

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2010

Sacramento, CA – The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), representing more than 62,000 public safety members throughout California, has formally endorsed the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act poised to qualify for California’s November 2010 ballot. The measure closes loopholes to prevent the State from taking, diverting or borrowing local government revenues which fund vital local services like law enforcement, fire protection and other public safety services.  

“Cities and counties throughout California have been forced to make devastating cuts to law enforcement and other public safety services, due in part to state budgetary raids,” said Ron Cottingham, PORAC president.  “On behalf of 62,000 public safety members, PORAC urges a YES vote on this initiative to protect public safety services by stopping state raids of local funds.”

PORAC joins a broad-based coalition of public safety leaders, local governments, transportation, business, labor and public transit advocates.  Other statewide public safety organizations that have endorsed the measure include the California Fire Chiefs Association, California Police Chiefs Association, Fire Districts Association of California, and California Association of Code Enforcement Officers.

If passed, the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Act of 2010 would:
•    Prohibit the state from borrowing local government property tax funds which are vital for public safety and other local services.
•    Prohibit the state from borrowing or taking gasoline taxes which are dedicated to transportation and transit improvements and services.
•    Prevent the taking of locally levied taxes, including parcel taxes, sales taxes, and other locally imposed taxes that are currently dedicated to cities, counties and special districts.
•    Prohibit the State from taking, borrowing or redirecting existing funding for public transit, including existing taxes on diesel fuel dedicated to the Public Transportation Account.
•    Add additional constitutional protections to prevent the state from raiding redevelopment funds or shifting redevelopment funds to other state purposes.
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On April 29, the coalition submitted 1.1 million signatures to county elections offices, far more than the required 694,354 valid signatures to qualify a constitutional amendment for the statewide ballot.  The deadline for the Secretary of State to certify measures for the November ballot is June 24.