Officials say new state budget may have good news for Benicia

Gov. Jerry Brown’s revision to his proposed state budget could mean “modest” boosts in funds to Benicia and other cities, Assistant City Manager Anne Cardwell said.

But Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson pointed out there remain some “big issues” in Brown’s budget, despite the most recent modifications.

Cardwell said one of the highlights for California cities she sees in the governor’s “May Revise” is “a modest boost in funds for front-line law enforcement funding to $40 million.”

In addition, she said, cities would benefit from a proposal to begin repaying money owed to cities for local government mandates that predate 2004.

She said she also saw additional augmentations to drought relief programs and some modest changes to the governor’s Infrastructure Finance District proposal, both helpful to Benicia.

“Additionally, there is $100 million to local governments to support implementation of sustainable communities strategies required by (Senate Bill) 375,” or Chapter 728 of the State Statutes of 2008, Cardwell said.

“The grant program will be coordinated by the Strategic Growth Council, and disadvantaged communities and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be prioritized,” she said.

She said energy savings also would result from $20 million earmarked for the Department of Water Resources for water and infrastructure efficiency projects.

“This proposal will provide additional funding for grants that support water use efficiency projects,” she said.

However, Cardwell noted that the May revision proposes no additional funding to help public libraries get broadband Internet service. That funding remains the same as in January, when Brown introduced his original budget.

Previously, Brown proposed $2.25 million in ongoing General Fund money to link all public libraries to high-speed broadband operated by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC).

“He identified an additional $1 million in one-time money for the purpose of connecting libraries that may have some difficulty joining the CENIC backbone,” Cardwell said. “Currently, the broadband proposal has been approved by the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be included in the budget bill sent to the governor for his signature,” she said.

Cardwell said these highlights don’t take money from cities. On the other hand, she added, “It is unlikely, once this funding filters through the various eligible programs and grants to cities, that the city of Benicia will see any notable benefits.”

Patterson had additional observations.

“One of the big issues that we the cities have with the governor’s proposed budget is the money for high-speed rail,” she said.

Patterson said the California League of Cities supports the project, “as do I.”

In 2008, more than 52 percent of California voters approved Proposition 1A, “The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century,” now Chapter 20 of the California Streets and Highway Code.

The proposed high-speed rail project would connect San Francisco and Los Angeles and improve local railroad systems to connect other stations with the project’s main line. However, the state budget provides no money for local governments to comply with Senate Bill 375, the legislation for reducing vehicles miles traveled.

SB 375, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, targets greenhouse gases emitted by passenger vehicles, cited in the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32) as California’s single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Provisions of SB 375 require the California Air Resources Board to set regional vehicle emissions reduction targets, and in turn all Metropolitan Planning Organizations must develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy that involves transportation, housing and use of land decisions.

“Local government should have cap-and-trade funds for this implementation,” Patterson said.

Another budget matter might share somewhat more state money with cities, Kilger said. “The second newsworthy part of the budget is the state paying its debt for unfunded mandates,” she said.

The governor proposes paying about $100 million back to the local jurisdictions, which may help some jurisdiction more than others, such as counties and realignment costs.

Realignment is the program of releasing certain state prisoners to county custody that Brown instituted in response to a Supreme Court mandate to reduce state prison overcrowding. “We would get something, but I am not sure how much,” Patterson said.