Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES TO TAKE A POSITION OF SUPPORT AND SEND A CORRESPONDING LETTER TO SECURE A PERMANENT FUNDING STREAM OF $3 BILLION ANNUALLY FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO SUPPORT CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND TO ADDRESS UNREIMBURSED COSTS TO CITIES FROM STATE-MANDED PROGRAMS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
This item transmits a request for City Council to consider taking a position of support and sending a corresponding letter calling for $3 billion in ongoing funding to increase housing supply and prevent and reduce homelessness and for the state to pay down its growing backlog of unreimbursed claims - nearly $1 billion - owed to local governments for state-mandated programs. The proposed letter is included as Exhibit 1.
As of October 2021, according to the League of California Cities and the State Controller’s, the City of Carson has $445,011 of unreimbursed costs incurred by state-mandated programs between 2004 and fiscal year 2020, not including any interest. More information is included in Exhibit 3.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE a position of SUPPORT and DIRECT staff to transmit a corresponding letter.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and that is consistent with applicable laws.
IV. BACKGROUND
As stated in the letter (Exhibit 2) prepared by the League of California Cities, local City officials are on the front lines delivering essential services to more than 80% of the state’s residents. They rely on collaborative partnerships with the state and other organizations to meet the challenges facing our communities and the state. Every day, local leaders are working to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with wraparound services, deliver permanent supportive housing, and jumpstart the construction of affordable housing in their communities. While the Governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget upholds commitments made in last year’s 2022 Budget Act to invest an additional $1 billion to fund a fifth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants for fiscal year 2023-24, it does not include any new, ongoing funding for cities to increase the supply of affordable housing and address and prevent homelessness.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact as this item includes only the letter of support.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Proposed Letter of Support (pgs. 3 - 4)
2. League of California Cities Letter (pgs. 5 - 6)
3. Data on State Mandated Program Costs (pgs. 7 - 8)
Prepared by: Michael George, Assistant to the City Manager