ACT NOW
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Thursday, August 20 - AB725, AB2345 and AB3040 - Senate Appropriations Suspense File Hearing.
Make calls TODAY or ASAP –Takes about 15 minutes!
CALL TO ACTION - Call members of the Senate Appropriations Committee before they meet (mtg: Thursday, 8/20 at 9:00 am) “OPPOSE AB725, AB2345 and AB3040.
SAMPLE SCRIPT for SENATE Appropriations Committee: “My name is ___. I’m calling about the Appropriations Committee meeting on Thursday. I urge you to oppose AB725, AB2345 and AB3040. The bills are fiscally irresponsible and places an unfair financial burden on cities. My zip code is ___. I don’t live in the Senator's district, but since his/her vote impacts all Californians, I want him/her to know about my objections.” Tips: Calling after hours to leave a message is OK. This committee doesn’t deal with policy, only fiscal impact. Be brief.
Senate Appropriations Committee
Voting on AB725, AB2345 and AB3040 Thursday, August 20 at 9:00 am.
Public opinion will not be an option during this suspense file hearing.
| Anthony J. Portantino (Chair) D (916) 651-4025 Patricia C. Bates (Vice Chair) D (916) 651-4036 Steven Bradford D (916) 651-4035 Jerry Hill D (916) 651-4013 | Brian Jones D (916) 651-4038 |
NIX THE NINE (Now Eight)
Calls to Appropriations Committee
What is the Suspense File?
The Appropriation Committee’s job is to consider the fiscal impacts of a bill. The Senate website says, Generally, if the cost of a bill is determined to be $50,000 or more to the General Fund or $150,000 or more to a special fund, the bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. The fiscal thresholds for suspense apply to the impact on any fund in any fiscal year.
What is an Unfunded State Mandate?
A city’s cost to implement a bill, without reimbursement from the state and with no sources of funding, is called an unfunded mandate. Each bill requires staff time to make it operational. Based on four major tasks and estimates re: time and costs per task, it is predicted each new bill will place an added staff expense at $18,000 or $144,000 for the eight bills remaining of the original “Nix the Nine.” Estimating 482 California jurisdictions, these bills burden communities with $69,408,000 in added staff expense. And for what?
Appropriate Action:
During an economic melt-down with no end in sight, ask the appropriations committee to do the right thing. Show mindfulness, compassion, and regard for cities who already shoulder the front-line responsibility for the financial, social, emotional, and physical well-being of their constituents. Instead of loyalty to developers and investors—with little promise of providing affordable housing—support communities as partners with the people who elected you.
*Calculation of impact of unfunded mandates for eight housing bills
|
Tasks |
Hours: Est. aggregate staff time, incldg Planner, City Manager, Attorney |
Cost: Est. aggregate cost at $75/hr ($78K avg-CA planner salary) + city manager, attorney costs |
|
Read, understand new law and interaction/impact with previous laws |
40 |
$3,000 |
|
Write new ordinances, educate planning staff and commission, city council, public |
120 |
$9000 |
|
Develop record-keeping metrics, collection systems and reporting mechanisms |
40 |
$3,000 |
|
Prepare documents and systems to educate builders, contractors, and community |
40 |
$3,000 |
|
|
Total |
$18,000 |
|
|
Total for 8 bills |
$144,000 |
Information: Susan Kirsch, Chair, Nix the Nine Campaign
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