By Town Crier Staff

Los Altos has joined ranks with other California cities determined to stop the state government from raiding local coffers in order to cover statewide deficits. In a unanimous vote last week, the Los Altos City Council pledged to support a statewide initiative that would give local voters the power to stop Sacramento from diverting city funds from local services.

Campaign organizers say the state Legislature has diverted and delayed as much as $30 billion in property taxes since 1991, taking away local funding essential for the operation of local public safety, parks, libraries and street maintenance programs and forcing cutbacks and increased local taxes.

In Los Altos, the state has diverted more than $10 million in property taxes since 1992, said Assistant City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson.

The Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act would put voters in charge of whether local tax dollars should be used to fund state services. If passed, voters would have the final say before the Legislature could reduce local revenues or take them for state purposes. A majority vote would be needed before a proposed state law could take effect that reduced the sales, property or vehicle license fee revenues of cities, counties and special districts. The act would require the state to reimburse cities in a timely manner for any mandated program expansions.

The League of California Cities filed the initiative with the attorney general’s office Oct. 28. The league should receive a title and summary for the initiative by the end of December, and the initiative should be put on next November’s ballot.