Bringing State Funding to Address Local Needs

By Judy Arnold

I have the experience and the know-how to help Novato through the maze of State regulations to find available funding. I am the only candidate with that expertise. Novato needs to abandon its isolationism and accusatory message and begin a mature interaction with the State.

In the City of Novato there is a common refrain, voiced in different ways, but constant: The State is taking Novato's money.

I have the experience and the know-how to help Novato through the maze of State regulations to find available funding. I am the only candidate with that expertise.

Since Proposition 13, local governments are dependent on State government for funding instead of the local property tax. When state revenues decrease, local government suffers. Over 17% of Novato's budget comes from the State. Like all local governments, Novato is caught up in Sacramento politics. To mitigate the political shenanigans, I support reducing the vote required to pass the budget from a two-thirds to 55% There are many reasons for the state's current budget problems, from a dot-com boom that went bust to a manufactured energy crisis to counterterrorism efforts. Amid all the chaos, however, one fact stands out. California is one of only three states, along with Arkansas and Rhode Island, which require a two-thirds vote to enact a state budget. I also support setting aside a rainy day fund of at least 5% in good times so that budget cuts and tax increases will be less likely in challenging economic times.

As I Councilmember, I would also ask the State to consider adopting statutory spending limits: either a spending cap that would link expenditures to revenues; or a requirement that one-time revenues be spent only for one-time purposes, such as capital projects or debt reduction.

Just as needful as these steps are, is a change of attitude in our present councilmembers. Instead of always criticizing the State, we should try positive interaction with our State representatives. Other cities in Marin do so, and have received money, even during these lean times, in the form of grants from proposition or bond monies. Novato needs to abandon its isolationism and accusatory message and begin a mature interaction with the State.