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RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FOSTER CITY OPPOSING A POTENTIAL NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT MEASURE: THE CALIFORNIA BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE “TAXPAYER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT” AND FIND THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE SECTION 15061(b)(3)
CITY OF FOSTER CITY
WHEREAS, an association representing California’s wealthiest corporations is spending tens of millions of dollars to promote a deceptive ballot measure currently eligible for the November 2024 statewide ballot; and
WHEREAS, the measure creates constitutional loopholes that allow corporations to pay far less than their fair share for the impacts they have on our communities, which could force residents and taxpayers to pay more to maintain services; and WHEREAS, the measure threatens billions of dollars every year in local government funding for services like fire and emergency response, law enforcement, affordable housing, services to support homeless residents, mental health services, and more; and
WHEREAS, the measure is an attack on voters’ rights, containing undemocratic provisions that would make it more difficult for local voters to pass measures to fund services, provisions that retroactively cancel measures recently passed by voters, and provisions that prevent voters from passing advisory measures that provide direction on how they want their local tax dollars spent; and
WHEREAS, the measure contains intentionally restrictive language that will encourage hundreds of frivolous lawsuits against cities and local governments – costing taxpayers many millions and stopping investments in vital local services; and WHEREAS, the measure would make it much more difficult for state and local regulators to issue fines and levies on corporations that violate laws intended to protect our environment, public health and safety, and our neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, the measure is opposed by hundreds of local governments, teachers, firefighters, working families, and local elected officials.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Foster City hereby opposes the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” (Initiative No. 21-0042A1) sponsored by the California Business Roundtable (CBRT) on the grounds that this measure would significantly impact the ability of local communities to adequately fund services.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED as a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City at the regular meeting held on the 18th day of March, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
PATRICK SULLIVAN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PRISCILLA SCHAUS, CITY CLERK