HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 88 (Oppose)Ron Everett
Mayor
Carol Herrera
Mayor Pro Tern
Wen P. Chang
Council Member
Jack Tanaka
Council Member
Steve Tye
Council Member
Recyded paper
OfdPU-JI i wer 8, 2009
21825 Copley Drive - Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178
(909) 839-7000 - Fax (909) 861-3117
www.CityofDiamondBar.com
The Honorable Senator DeSaulnier
State Senator, 7th District
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-2527
Dear Senator DeSaulnier:
The City Council of Diamond Bar respectfully opposes SB 88, which places
unwarranted and excessive State requirements on local government
contemplating bankruptcy.
The City of Diamond Bar strongly objects to this legislation because of the
additional burden placed on the City's authority to manage its own fiscal affairs.
Since incorporation in 1989, the Diamond Bar City Council has consistently
valued and practiced fiscal responsibility. Additionally, since the adoption of
Chapter 9 of the state Bankruptcy Code in 1949, only two cities have petitioned
for its use. Requiring cities to obtain state approval and guidance before filing
for bankruptcy places municipalities in a greater financially subordinate role to
the State and does nothing to resolve the real issue affecting local government
revenues and the onus of bankruptcy, which is the State's continued siphoning
of billions of dollars in local government revenue to fix the State's ongoing
structural budget deficit.
The City of Diamond Bar values transparency and reform especially with regard
to financial matters. However, local financial decisions are best left to the locally
elected City Councils and the residents they represent, not State officials.
For these reasons, the City of Diamond Bar is opposed to SB 88.
Sincerely,
Ron Everett
Mayor, City of Diamond Bar
CC: League of California Cities
Joe A. Gonsalves & Son