League of California Cities sues to block vehicle tax shift

(From the sacbee.com) In another budget-related lawsuit, the League of California Cities went to Sacramento Superior Court on Wednesday to pursue $130 million in vehicle taxes that cities previously received from the state. Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers shifted those funds to local governments as part of the June budget to pay for public safety grants. It was a minor piece of the governor’s $5.5 billion “realignment” plan to transfer state responsibilities to the local level.

The League of California Cities said the maneuver shortchanges city police departments and proves particularly harmful to four newly incorporated cities in Riverside County that were depending heavily on the money to finance their operations.

League executive director Chris McKenzie said he believes the budget violates three parts of the state constitution, including a 2010 voter-approved ballot measure that local governments sought to protect their payments from the state. The League has already filed suit against the state to block a budget move that would generate $1.7 billion from redevelopment agencies.

Read more here: League of California Cities sues to block vehicle tax shift