Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Cities Ponder the Value of SB 90 Claims

摘要

Many cities have been asking themselves if it's worth the time and money required to prepare and file state-mandated cost claims when the state hasn't appropriated any money to reimburse them for the third straight year. In short, is the juice worth the squeeze? It appears the vast majority of cities have decided to continue filing SB 90 or state-mandated cost reimbursement claims, at least for this fiscal year. That decision was buoyed after the state adopted Senate Constitutional Amendment 4 (now Proposition 1A) during its recent budget negotiations. Prop. 1A will be on the November 2004 general election ballot. This measure, strongly supported by the League and its LOCAL coalition partners, contains provisions that would force the state to begin paying for state mandates next fiscal year or suspend or repeal them. Prop. 1A contains the framework for a new and improved mandate system; however, the details of that system are left for the Legislature to craft.