By @Kyle Packham
In a recent survey, CSDA received responses from 509 of the state’s 2,000 special districts on the potential impacts of Initiative 1935, dubbed the “Taxpayer Deception Act” by its opponents. The initiative is eligible for the November 2024 statewide ballot and seeks to revise the Constitution in a manner that would retroactively invalidate billions of dollars in funding for essential services approved by voters and locally-elected boards over the past three years.
Data from the one-quarter of California’s special districts that responded to CSDA’s survey indicates communities could retroactively lose close to $2 billion in funding for special district services, and that 38 financing obligations could be adversely impacted. Overall, Initiative 1935 could disrupt essential services provided by special districts in at least 293 communities across California. If the data were to be extrapolated to include those special districts that did not respond to the survey, the impacts could be magnified approximately four-fold.
CSDA encourages all special districts to inform themselves on the potential impact of Initiative 1935 on your agency and the community you serve by taking advantage of these three opportunities:
- On-Demand Webinar: Initiative 1935 Could Invalidate Your Revenue
- Free to CSDA members. Learn more about the initiative and get an overview of what public officials can and cannot do when it comes to a statewide ballot initiative.
- May 21-22 Special Districts Legislative Days: Briefing on Critical Supreme Court Case, Legislature of the State of California v. Weber, which could determine the legal fate of Initiative 1935
- On May 8 at 9:00am the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on this landmark case. On May 22, Michael Colantuono, Managing Shareholder of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley and author of CSDA’s joint amicus brief, will brief Special Districts Legislative Attendees on the status of the case and potential impacts on special districts.
- Contact your CSDA Public Affairs Field Coordinator: Ask additional questions and request to meet virtually or in-person with a member of our team, or request a presentation for your staff or board of directors.
***CSDA CALL TO ACTION***
CSDA calls upon all members to join the more than 125 special districts and 200 cities that have already passed a board resolution in opposition to Initiative 1935. Visit csda.net/VoterLimitations:
#AdvocacyNews #FeatureNews #Revenue
