California: Local government protection initiative could be on statewide ballot
Proponents of a California ballot initiative that would end state raids of city, redevelopment and transit money predict they will collect sufficient signatures well ahead of a May deadline. “It’s the most popular initiative on the street,” said Chris McKenzie, executive director of League of California Cities. “It leads with the three most popular three words in California, ‘Prohibits the state … .’” The Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 would strip the state of access to all tax dollars earmarked for local non-education agencies. It closes a loophole in Proposition 1A of 2004, which allowed the state to borrow local dollars in fiscal emergencies.