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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-250 RESOLunON NO. 98-250 1 2 3 4 RESOLunON OF TIlE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING TIlE 1998 ELECfRIC unLITY PROPosmON (pROPosmON 9). WHEREAS, the 1998 Electric Utility Proposition would undermine California's new competitive electricity market, diminishing customer choice and competitive electricity 6 rates: and 5 7 WHEREAS, the State Legislative Analyst and Department of Finance have determined that the net impact of this proposition on local governments would be revenue reductions 8 potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually through 2001-02; and 9 WHEREAS, the precedence set by disallowing payment on rate reduction bonds could 10 impair the ability of state and local governments to secure low-cost financing for local infrastructure bonds and other types of bonds; and 11 WHEREAS, passage of this measure could exacerbate the financial problems experienced 12 through unfunded state mandates; and 13 WHEREAS, the proposition jeopardizes the state's economic recovery by creating 14 uncertainty for California-based companies, as well as those considering relocating to our state. 15 16 TIIEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TIlE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF TIlE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: 17 SECTION 1. The Mayor and Common Council of the City of San 18 19 Bernardino oppose the 1998 Electric Utility Proposition (Proposition 9). 20 SECTION 2. The City Administrator is directed to send copies of this 21 resolution to the League of California Cities, area legislative representatives, and other 22 parties that may request such copies. 23 III 24 25 26 III III 27 28 August 19, 1998 1 98-250 RESOLunON OPPOSING TIlE 1998 ELECfRIC unLITY PROPosmON (pROPosmON 9). 1 2 3 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor 4 and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a regular meeting thereof, 5 held on the 8th day of September , 1998, by the following vote, to wit: 6 Council Members AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 7 ESTRADA x 8 LIEN x 9 ARIAS x 10 11 SCHNETZ x 12 DEVLIN x - 13 ANDERSON x 14 x MILLER 15 16 ~r!'~ 17 18 19 The foregoing resolution is hereby approved thi:;f~day of "~pi-~mh~" 1998. /~ VALLES, Mayor f San Bernardino 98-The . .5A'37..e;:t!)o~4 . ,4 MO.J.: -II: 1- S Utility Rate Reduction and Reform Act 'CTION 1. Findings and Declarations Attachment 1-- The People of California find and declare as follows: The cost and dependability of California's electric utility service are threatened by a new law that was intended to reduce regulation of electric utility companies in this state. Any change in the way electricity is sold should benefit all electric utility customers, including residential and small business customers, and should result in a fair and competitive marketplace. Instead of creating a fully competitive market for electricity, the new law unfairly favors existing electric utility monopolies by forcing customers to pay rates more than 40 percent higher than the market price in order to bailout utilities for their past bad investments. As a result of this 528 billion bailout for electric utility companies, the average California household will pay more than 5250 more per year for electricity than they would in a fully competitive market. Residential and small business customers should not be required to bear the costs of bonds used by utility companies to pay for past bad investments. It is against public policy for residential and small business customers to be required to pay for the imprudent and uneconomic decisions of electric utility companies to invest in nuclear power plants which the public did not want and which threaten the health and safety of this state. . ',der the new law, deregulation of electric utility companies may result in marketing abuses that harm idential and small business customers. Such abuses may include the selling of information about <!lese customers to other companies for profit. Therefore, the People of California declare that it is necessary to protect residential and small business customers from unfair and unjustified taxes and surcharges that will force them to subsidize electric utility companies. It is also necessary to ensure that residential and small business customers directly benefit from deregulation of electric utility companies. SECTION 2. Purpose The purpose of this chapter is to: 1. Reduce residential and small commercial electricity rates by 20 percent to assure that these customers receive a direct benefit from the transition to the competitive marketplace for electricity. 2. Prohibit taxes, surcharges, bond payments or any other assessment from being added to electricity bills to pay off utility companies' past bad investments in nuclear power plants and other generation- related costs. 3. Prohibit bonds from being used to force residential and small business customers to pay for past bad investments by electric utility companies. 4. Provide for fair and public review of California Public Utilities Commission decisions related to electricity price and services. 5. Protect the privacy of utility customers and provide the information consumers need to obtain low cost and high quality electric service. 98-250 SECTION 3. The following Sections are added to the Public Utilities Code: Electric Utility Rate Reduction Section 368.1 (a) No later than January 1, 1999, electricity rates for residential and small commercial customers shall be reduced so that these customers receive rate reductions of at least 20 percent on their total electricity bill as compared to the rate schedules in effect for these customers on June 10, 1996. (b) The rate reductions described in subsection (a) shall be achieved through cutting payments to electric corporations for their nuclear and other uneconomic generation costs as described in Sections 367.1 and 367.2. . (c) No utility tax, bond payment, surcharge, or any other assessment in any form shall be levied against any electric utility customer to pay for the rate reductions described in subsections (a) and (b). Prohibitiqn Against Utility Taxes, Bond Payments, Surcharges or Any Other Assessments To Pay For Nuclear Power Plants Section 367.1 (a) Effective immediately, costs for nuclear generation plants and related assets and obligations shall not be paid for by electric utility customers, except to the extent that such costs are recovered by the sale of electricity at competitive market prices as reflected in independent Power Exchange revenues or in contracts with the Independent System Operator. (b) No utility tax, bond payment, surcharge or other assessment in any form shall be levied against any electric utility customer for the recovery of nuclear costs described in subsection (a). (c) This section shall not apply to reasonable nuclear decommissioning costs as referenced in Section 379 of the Public Utilities Code. 2 98-250 Limitation On Utility Taxes, Bond Payments, Surcharges, and Any Other Assessments T<T Pay for Electric Utility Company Investments in Non-Nuclear Generation Assets Section 367.2 (a) Effective immediately, costs for non-nuclear generation plants and related assets and obligations shall not be recovered from electric utility customers under the cost recovery mechanism provided for by sections 367 through 376 of the Public Utilities Code except to the extent that such costs are recovered by the sale of electricity at competitive market rates from independent Power Exchange revenues or from contracts with the Independent System Operator, unless the electric utility first demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Conunission at a public hearing that failure to recover such costs would deprive it of the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return.. (b) This section shall not apply to costs associated with renewable non-nuclear electricity generation facilities described in Section 38 I (c )(3), or to costs associated with power purchases from qualifying facilities pursuant to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and related commission decisions. Prohibition Against Utility Taxes, Bond Payments, Surcharges and Any Other Assessment To Pay For Securitization Bonds. Section 840.1 Notwithstanding current Sections 840 through 847 of the Public Utilities Code: (a) No electric corporation, affiliate of an electric corporation or any other financing entity shall assess or collect any utility tax, bond payment, surcharge or any other assessment authorized by a Public Utilities Commission financing order issued pursuant to Sections 840 through 847 of the Public Utilities Code for the purpose ofpaylng principle, interest or any other costs of any bonds authorized by those sections. (b) The Public Utilities Commission shall not issue any financing order pursuant to Sections 840 through 847 after the effective date of this measure. (c) Any electric corporation, affiliate ofan electric corporation or any other financing entity which is subject to a financing order issued under Section 841 that is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable despite subsection (a) of this section, shall offset any utility tax, bond payment, surcharge, or other assessment described in subsection (a) collected from any customer with an equal credit to be applied concurrently with the collection of the utility tax, bond payment, surcharge or other assessment. 3 98-250 Section 841.1 Any underwriter or bond purchaser who purchases rate reduction bonds after November 24, 1997 issued pursuant to current Sections 840 through 847 shall be deemed to have notice of the provisions of Sections 367.1,367.2, 368.1, and 840.1 Public Participation and Judicial Review For Consumer Protection and Electric Company Accountability Section 1701.5 (a) Any action or proceeding of the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Section 367. I, 367.2, 368.1 and 840.1 of the Public Utilities Code shall require a public hearing where evidence is taken by and discretion is vested in the Public Utilities Commission. (b) Any change to the amount of above-market costs for non-nuclear generation plants and, related assets and obligations being recovered from utility customers shall only be made after the electrical corporation has provided notice to the public pursuant to Section 454 of the Public Utilities Code. (c) Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void or annul a determination, finding, or decision of the Public Utilities Commission relating to electric restructuring under Chapter 2.3 of Part I of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code and financing of transition costs as described in Article 5.5 of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division I of the Public Utilities Code shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In any such action the writ of mandate shall lie from the court of appeals to the Public Utilities Commission. The court shall not exercise its independent judgement but shall only determine whether the determination, finding or decision of the Public Utilities Commission is supported by substantial evidence in light of the whole record. Electric Utility Customer Privacy Protection Section 394.1 The confidentiality of residential and small commercial customer information shall be fully protected as provided by law. No entity providing electricity services including an electric corporation shall provide information about a residential or small commercial customerto any third party without the express written consent of the customer. 4 98-250 Electric Utility Customer Information Section 393 The Public Utilities Commission shall require each electric utility or electric service provider to provide such information or materials with each utility bill issued to residential and small commercial customers as the Commission determines to be necessary to assist consumers in obtaining low cost, high quality electric servJce options, including electric service options that reduce environmental impacts such as those that rely on renewable energy sources and to protect consumers' interest in all matters concerning safe and dependable delivery of electric service. Definitions Section 330.1 Definitions of Charges (a) "Utility tax" "bond payments" "surcharge", "assessment" or "involuntary payment" mean any charge that serves to permit an electric corporation to recover the value of uneconomic assets from ratepayers, and includes but is not limited to a "fixed transition amount" as defined by Section 840(d), and the "competition transition charge" that is the nonbypassable charge referred to in Sections 367 to 376, inclusive. (b) For purposes of Sections 330.1,367.1,367.2,368.1, 393, and 840.1, the terms "electric utility", "electric utility company", and "electric corporation" have the same meaning as the term "electrical corporation" as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code. Repeal of Existing Law Sections 367(a), 368(d), 368(h) of the Public Utilities Code are repealed SECTION 4. Initiative Integrity (a) This act shall be broadly construed and applied in order to fully promote its underlying purposes, and to be consistent with the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of California. If any provision of this initiative conflicts directly or indirectly with any other provisions of law, including but not limited to the cost recovery mechanism provided for by Sections 367 through 376 of the Public Utilities Code, or any other statute previously enacted by the Legislature, it is the intent ofthe voters that those other provisions shall be null and void to the extent that they are inconsistent with this initiative and are hereby repealed. (b) No provision of this act may be amended by the Legislature except to further the purpose of that provision by a statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered in the journal, two thirds of the membership concurring, or by a statute that becomes effective only when approved by the electorate. No amendment by the Legislature shall be deemed to further the purposes of this act unless it fur:thers the purpose of the specific provision of this act that is being amended. In any judicial action with respect to any legislative amendment, the court shall exercise its independent judgment as to whether or not the amendment satisfies the requirements of this subsection. 5 98-250 (c) If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not effect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect in the absence of the invalid provision or application. To this end, the provisions of this act are severable. (d) It is the will ofthel'eople that any legal challenges to the validity of any provision of this act be acted upon by the courts upon. an expedited basis. 6 98-250 Attachment J. \OOYE.l\A'S f~~I"1 i~l. 11';:,..., ~ LHQu~ol(a]jfGrnii(itirs ~.." ~,<-,.,.., '<,~ o,p '-";;~'''', .c,+ :t1.....C TOUt. League of California Cities 1400 K Street. Suite 400 . Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916) 658-8200 Fax (916) 658-8240 www.cacities.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 18, 1998 CONTACT: Yvonne Hunter 916.658.8242 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES OPPOSED TO PROPOSITION 9 Sacramento, CA -- After careful deliberation. the League of California Cities Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose Proposition 9. the electric utilities initiative slated for the November ballot. The League is opposed to Prop. 9 because of the potentially harmful effects it would have on future funding to local governments. the negative impacts it would have on the municipal bond market and the uncertainty that would result in Califomia.s emerging competitive electricity market. "We are concerned about the potential for revenue loss to local governments should Prop. 9 pass. This. coupled with the negative impact the measure would have on the municipal bond market. gave our Board great concern," said Don Benninghoven, Executive Director of the League of California Cities. By impairing the collection of bonds already sold, Prop. 9 could adversely affect the ability of cities and municipalities to sell their own bonds due to an increase in perceived risk associated with the California initiative process. Already, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. the state's leading bond counsel. has identified potential credit and bond rating problems should Prop. 9 pass. 'This initiative could seriously hamper the ability of our member cities to secure low-cost financing for local education bonds, local infrastructure bonds and other types of bonds:' Benninghoven said. "At the very least. it would create an aura of uncertainty in the California municipal bond market:' In addition, Benninghoven noted that the League was active in the negotiations that led to electricity restructuring in California. "Numerous cities throughout California are evaluating their options in the new competitive electricity market," said Benninghoven. "Some have already signed contracts with new electric service providers or are negotiating to do so. The League is concerned that passage of Prop. 9 will cause uncertainty and produce a chilling effect on the newly emerging competitive electricity market. Founded in 1898, the League of California Cities is a member organization that represents everyone of Califomia's 471 cities. The League strives to protect the local authority and autonomy of city government and help Califomia's cities effectively serve their residents. In addition to advocating on cities' behalf at the State Capitol, the League provides its members professional development programs and information resources, conducts educational conferences and research. and publishes Weslern Cily magazme. ### ATr fK!.ffl( eIlli #,6 98-250 WE'RE OPPOSED TO PROPOSITION 9 TaXDaver California Taxpayers' Association National Tax Limitation Committee Contra Costa Taxpayers Association Kern County Taxpayers Association Orange County Taxpayers Association Ventura County Taxpayers Association Sonoma County Taxpayers Association Environmental Planning and Conservation League Natural Resources Defense Council Environmental Defense Fund Mothers of East Los Angeles - Santa Isabel Forest Resources Council Project Go. Inc. California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition Citizens for Total Energy Sierra-Pacific Environmental. Inc. Volunteers of Shaver Lake Labor California Labor Federation. AFL-CIO Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Central Labor Council of Butte and Glenn Counties, AFL-CIO International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1245 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 11 Laborer.s Union Local 220 South Bay Labor Council. AFL-CIO Laborers. International Union of North America. Local #806 Five Counties Central Labor Council. AFL/CIO Teamsters Union Local No. 439 Union Publications. Inc. Local Government League of California Cities California State Association of Counties Independent Cities Association Association of California Water Agencies California Municipal Utilities Association West Basin Municipal Board North Coast County Supervisors Association County ofImperial County of Kings City of California City City of La Puente Regional Council of Rural Counties City of Lynwood City of McFarland City of Tulare City of Upland City of Laguna Hills City of Carson Shafter City Council City of Willows Orland City Council City of Seaside Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Walnut Creek City Council City of Mission Viejo California Contract Cities Association Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council Board of Supervisors, EI Dorado County El Dorado Hills Community Services District City of Marysville City of Fortune County of Plumas City of San Rafael Christopher Becker - Director of Public Works, Placentia Education California Teachers Association California School Boards Association Association of California School Administrators Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office California School Employees Association California Association of Suburban School Districts Buena Vista Elementary School Oak Valley Union School District Jefferson Union High Eastside Union School District Palo Verde Union School District Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Woodlake Union Elementary School District Sundale Union Elementary Tulare County Board of Education Tulare Joint Union High School District College of the Sequoias Community College District Board of Trustees David Sandell- Superintendent ofEI Monte Charles Menoher - Superintendent, Shasta Union High School District Barbara Nemko - Superintendent of Schools, Napa County Diane K. Sirri - Superintendent. Santa Cruz Terence K. McAteer - Superintendent of Schools. Nevada County Peggy J. Wozniak - Superintendent. Mammoth Unified School District Geraldine A. Evans - Chancellor, San Jose City and Evergreen Valley Community College District Leon Beauchamon - Governing Board Member, Campbell Union School District Richard Teagarden - Superintendent of Schools, Yuba County Charles Menoher - Superintendent of Schools, Shasta County Office of Education Paul Wagner. Principal. Fremont Unified William Kelly - Vice Chancellor. Saddleback College District Elizabeth Dom Parker - Member. Orange County Board of Education Delaine Eastin - California Department of Education Public Safety California State Firefighters' Association Peace Officers Research Association of California California Professional Firefighters Association California Organization of Police & Sheriffs Action Fire Protection Santa Cruz Deputy Sheriffs Association Tulare Professional Firefighters' Association Association of Bakersfield Police Officers Oswald-Tudor Fire Department Kern County Fire Fighters Union, Inc., Local 1301 Fresno Fire Fighters Association Stockton Professional Firefighters Warren E. Rupf - Sheriff, Contra Costa County Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Sherman Block, Sheriff, County of Los Angeles Michael S. Carona - Marshall. Orange _ County Consumer American Association of Business Persons with Disabilities Consumers First Consumers Coalition of California Americans for Competitive Telecommunications Wests ide Action Group Committee On Jobs Enerl!V Service Providers New Energy Ventures Enron Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, 1. P. Independent Energy Producers Association Inland Empire Utilities Agency Sonoma County Releaf Political Groups California Democratic Party California Republican Assembly California Congress of Republicans Filipino-American Political Association Hmong American Political Association San Francisco Democratic Party Young Republican Federation of California Lincoln Club of Orange County Madge Overhous - Region 5 Director. California Democratic Party Al!riculture California Farm Bureau Federation Butte County Farm Bureau California Forestry Association AMS Farm Management, Yuba City Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Bi-County Irrigation. Inc. Lake County Farm Bureau El Dorado Irrigation District Nisei Farmers League Kings County Fann Bureau Chambers of Commerce Azusa Chamber of Commerce Bell Gardens Association of Merchants and Commerce California Black Chamber of Commerce California Chamber of Commerce Califomia Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce Carson Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce, EM/SEM Compton Chamber of Commerce Corona Chamber of Commerce Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Cudahy Chamber of Commerce Daly City-Colma Chamber of Commerce East County Regional Chamber of Commerce Encinitas North Coast Chamber of Commerce Eureka Chamber of Commerce Fairfield - Suisun Chamber of Commerce Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Solano County Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Gal~ta Valley Chamber of Commerce Gateway Chamber Alliance Greater CoronaINorco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Greater Delano Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce Greater Tulare Chamber of Commerce Greater Westminister Chamber of Commerce Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce Hanford Chamber of Commerce Hayward Chamber of Commerce Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Association Irvine Chamber of Commerce Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles Korean Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Latino Chamber of Commerce of Santa Lomita Chamber of Commerce Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Manteca Chamber of Commerce Maywood Chamber of Commerce Monterey County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Oakland-Five East Bay Counties Black Chamber of Commerce Ontario Chamber of Commerce South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce _ Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Perris Valley Hispanic Chamber of Pi co Rivera Chamber of Commerce Placentia Chamber of Commerce Pomona Valley Latin Chamber of Commerce Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce Puente Hills Area Chamber of Commerce Rosemead Chamber of Commerce Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce San Benito County Chamber of Commerce San Diego County Black Chamber of Commerce San Gabriel Black Chamber of Commerce San Gabriel Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Santa Clara County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce Santa Paula Mexican American Chamber of Commerce Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce South Bay Association of Chambers South Gate Chamber of Commerce Stanislaus County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Tulare-Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tustin Chamber of Commerce U.S African American Chamber of Commerce Upland Chamber of Commerce Victor Valley African American Chamber of Commerce Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara Valley Y orba Linda Chamber of Commerce Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Community Groups Rancho Downey Homeowners Association Rio Hondo Boys and Girls Club Door of Hope Community Center, Los Angeles EI Dorado County Citizens for Water Port Hueneme Boys and Girls Clubs Kamala Neighborhood Council Economic Council of Pass Area Communities Affordable Communities, Inc. San Jose Conservation Corps. Long Beach Church of Christ Youth Opportunities Boys and Girls Club of Oxnard Durley Park Neighborhood Watch American G.!. Forum. Department of California Asian Business Association Asian Business Association, Orange County Asian Pacific Community Fund Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council Black Business Association Black Business Empowerment Network Black Chamber of Orange County California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations Chicano Federation of San Diego County EI Concilio of San Mateo County Filipino American Business Association of Glendale Filipino American Educational and Cultural Association Hispanic Business & Trade Association Hispanic Business Women Hispanic Youth Task Force Inland Area Kwanzaa Committee Jurupa Hispanic Association The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Benecia Historical Museum Pittsburg Vietnam Memorial Tulare Improvement Program Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Redwood Empire Association El Shaddal Christian Fellowship Church Boys and Girls Clubs of Pomona Valley Fairfield-Suisun Community Action Council. Inc. Kings United Way Girls Pocket Sotiball Greenhaven Soccer Ethnic National Korean American Grocers Foundation Korean American Grocers Association of Orange County Korean Health. Education and Information and Research Center. Los Angeles Korean Youth & Community Center La Raza Round Table Latin Business Association League of United Latin America Citizens- California District 12 Mexican American Opportunity Foundation NAACP Pasadena Branch Para Todos Singapore-American Business Association of Southern California Southeast Hispanic Business and Professional Services United Latino Fund United Minority Business Entrepreneurs Urban League of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Human Services Association Steelworkers Oldtimers Foundation Golden Agers of Los Angeles Filipino American Service Group, Inc. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space California Small Business Association California Grocers Association California Healthcare Association Association for California Tort Reform California Large Energy Consumers Association California Business Roundtable California Retailers Association Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California California Business Properties Association California Employer Advisory Council CellNet Data Systems Industry Manufacturers Council California League of Food Processors California Independent Petroleum Association California Industrial Users Western States Petroleum Association Pacific Gas and Electric California Restaurant Association Southern Counties Oil Co. California Manufacturers Association California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance Independent Oil Producers' Agency Coachella Valley Economic Partnership North American Refractories Commerce Industrial Council, City of Commerce Hewlett-Packard San Diego Gas and Electric Orange County Business Council San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation Senior Business Placer County Commission on Aging American Coalition for Filipino Veterans Tulare Senior Services, Inc. Building Industry Association of Southern California, Inc. California City Economic Development Corporation Small Business Coalition of Southern California Antelope Valley Board of Trade Inland Valley Economic Development Corp. Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corporation, Oxnard Pacific Incubation Network North County Economic Development Council Southern California Edison East San Diego County Economic Development Council San Gabriel Valley Economic Council Valley Industry and Commerce Association Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce South Coast Metro Alliance Building Industry Association - Coachella Valley Chapter Baldy View Building Industry Association Monterey County Business Council Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine (RDS Media Group) Building Industry Association -- Orange County Chapter Atkins Environmental H.E.L.P, Inc. AQC Environmental Engineers Western States Petroleum Association Tehama Local Development Corporation, Red Bluff Ventura County Economic Development Corporation Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Statewide Elected Officials and Candidates Dan Lungren. Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Gray Davis, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Angelides. Democratic Candidate for Treasurer Curt Pringle. Republican Candidate for State Treasurer Dave Stirling, Republican Candidate for Attomev General County Elected Officials and Candidates E. Tom Bamert - Supervisor. Amador County Fred C. Davis - Supervisor. Butte County Robert I. Schroder - Former Supervisor. Contra Costa County John M. Gioia - Supervisor Elect, Contra Costa County Walt Shultz - Supervisor. EI Dorado County John Upton - Supervisor. EI Dorado County Ray Nutting - Supervisor, El Dorado County Sharon Levy - Supervisor, Fresno County Gary Freeman - Supervisor, Glenn County Denny Bungarz - Supervisor, Glenn County Alene 1. Taylor - Supervisor. Kings County Lee Lockhart - Supervisor, Kings County Anthony Barba - Supervisor, Kings County Jon Rachford - Supervisor. Kings County Joe Neves - Supervisor, Kings County Patty Logoluso - Vice-Chair Board of Supervisors, Madera County John Silva - Supervisor, Madera County Tracy Kennedy-Desmond - Treasurer/Tax Collector, Madera County Harry Baker - Chairman of the Board, Madera County Ernie LiCalsi - District Attorney. Madera County Robert M. Weygardt - Supervisor. Placer County William N. Dennison - Supervisor. Plumas County Michael Yaki - Supervisor. San Francisco City & County Gavin Newsom - Supervisor. San Francisco City & County Leslie Katz - Supervisor. San Francisco City & County Mike Ryan - Supervisor. San Luis Obispo County Mike Nevin - Supervisor. San Mateo County Dianne Jacob - Supervisor. San Diego County Glenn E. Hawes - Supervisor. Shasta County John F. Silva - Supervisor. Solano County Casey Kroon - Supervisor. Sutter County Dick Akin - Supervisor. Sutter County Bill Borror - Supervisor. Tehama County William Sanders - Supervisor. Tulare County Charles Harness - Supervisor. Tulare County Mel Richmond - Supervisor. Tulare County Jim Maples - Supervisor. Tulare County Bill Maze - Supervisor. Tulare County Tom Stallard - Supervisor. Yolo County City Elected Officials and Candidates Leroy Harrington - Board Chair, Antelope Valley Transit Authority Allen D. Payton - Councilman. Antioch Roger Chandler - Mayor Pro Tempore. Arcadia Jess Ortiz - Mayor, Arvin Robert E. Huber - Councilmember, Atherton Randy Bomgaars - City Councilmember. Bellflower Quintin Kidd - Councilmember. Brentwood Rosalie M. O'Mahony - Councilmember. Burlingame Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Stephanie Harlan - Mayor. Capitola Ron.Graves - Councilmember. Capitola Daryl W. Sweeney - Councilmember. Carson William H. Armstrong - Mayor Pro Tempore. Clovis Helen Fisicaro - Councilmember. Colma Frossanna Vallerga - Mayor, Colma Lela R. Leon - Councilmember. Commerce Basil Kimbrew - Board Member. Compton Unified School District Mary L. Hornbuckle - Former Mayor, Costa Mesa George Perez - Mayor, Cudahy Araceli Gonzales - Mayor Pro Tempore, Cudahy Alex F. Rodriguez - Councilmember, Cudahy David M. Silva - Councilmember. Cudahy Sal Torres - City Councilmember, Daly City Richard L. Waldo - Mayor, Danville Anthony Martinez - Mayor, Delano Arthur B. Armendariz - Mayor Pro Tempore. Delano Raymond K. Millard - Mayor, Dinuba Keith McCarthy - Mayor Pro Tempore, Downey Guy S. Houston - Mayor, Dublin Jack Thurston - Councilman. EI Monte Lori Holt Pfeiler - Mayor Pro Tempore, Escondido Jim Lawrence - Vice Mayor. Foster City Alex Torres - Mayor, Exeter Jim Fournier - Candidate for City Council of Fountain Valley Ken Steitz - City Councilman. Fresno Annett La Rue - Retired Judge, Fresno County Gwen Duffy - Councilmember, Gardena Elizabeth Williams - Mayor, Gonzales John W. Kistinger - DDS, Mayor Pro Tempore, Gonzales Louis S. Garcia - City Councilmember, Gonzales Bill Ward - Councilmember, Hayward Dave Winn - Mayor, Industry Philip L. lriarte - City Manager, Industry Joe Esquivel - Vice Mayor, Lakewood Wayne Piercy - Councilmember, Lakewood Art Madrid - Mayor. La Mesa Barry Jantz - Councilmember. La Mesa- Edward L. Chavez - Councilmember. La Puente Dwight Shelley - Councilmember, Lemon Grove Phillip Pennino - Councilmember, Lodi Margaret Estrada - Councilmember. Lomita Timothy L. King - Councilmember. Lomita Rhonda A. Morillas - Mayor. Loomis Michael Boberg - Vice Mayor, Loomis Gerald O' Brien - Councilmember. Los Banos Louis Byrd - Council member. Lynwood Ricardo Sanchez - City Councilmember. Lynwood M. .J. Nabors - Council member, Madera Herman Perez - Mayor Pro Tempore. Madera Rob Schroder - Councilmember. Martinez Dirk .J. Helder - Councilman. Marysville Sherri Butterfield - Councilwoman. Mission Viejo Larry Smith - Councilmember. Mission Viejo Tom Adams - Councilmember. Monrovia Jacqueline E. Heather - Former Mayor. Newport Beach Dick Lyon - Mayor, Oceanside Jim Beam - Former Mayor. Orange Frederick C. Thompson, Board Member- Palmdale School District Joseph P. Davies. Jr. - Mayor Pro Tempore. Palmdale Willie White - Vice Mayor. Pomona Paula Lantz - Councilmember, Pomona Robert E. Turner - Councilmember. Port Hueneme Toni Young - Mayor Pro Tempore. Port Hueneme Gary Reed - Past Councilmember, Porterville Robert W. Bruesch - Mayor, Rosemead Margaret Clark - Councilmember. Rosemead Jay T. Imperial - Councilmember. Rosemead William A. Smallman - Former City Councilman. Sacramento Edward Simon - Mayor. San Bruno David L. Buckmaster - Councilmember. San Carlos Revised on 8/25/98 98-250 Steve Apodaca - Councilman, San Clemente Joe' Anderson - Councilman, San Clement Doude Wysbeek - Councilmember, San Fernando Henry Perea - Councilmember, San Francisco Harry Baldwin - Councilmember, San Gabriel Dominic S. Polimeni - Councilmember, San Gabriel Frank Fiscalini - Councilmember, San Jose John Diquisto - Councilmember, San Jose Marty Blum, Councilmember, Santa Barbara Jo Anne Darcy - Mayor Pro Tempore, Santa Clarita Mary 1. Klajic - Councilmember, Santa Clarita Robert T. Holbrook - Mayor, Santa Monica John A. F. Melton - Councilmember, Santa Paula Don Jordan - Mayor, Seaside Helen B. Rucker - Mayor Pro Tempore, Seaside Richard Ortiz - Councilmember, Soledad Fred 1. Ledesma - Councilmember. Soledad Brian Donahue - Councilmember. Stanton Harry M. Dotson - Mayor Pro Tem. Stanton Philip A. Smith - Mayor Pro Tempore. Linda D. Crase - Councilmember. Tulare William Cooke - Vice Mayor, Tulare Diane Mathis - Mayor, Tulare Nettie Washington - Councilmember, Tulare John Lazar - Councilmember. Turlock Tracy Worley - Mayor Pro Tempore, Tustin Ed Estes. Jr. - Councilman, Vista Gene Wolfe - Mayor, Walnut Creek Kathy Hicks - Councilmember. Walnut Creek Oscar Rios - Mayor Pro Tempore, Watsonville Frank G. Fry - Mayor, Weslminister Vincent H. Holvik - Mayor, Willows Lom Pride - Vice Mayor, Willows Mike Murray - Councilmember. Willows Dr. Bill Wesley Brown - Councilmember, Willows Revised on 8/25/98 SCE PUBLIC ~FFRIRS Fax:626-302-l977 Sep 1 '98 9:53 P.Ol 98-250 Appendix H ABOUT 11IE AUTHORS Specializes In advisiq ~lic: and. private emities on issue$ reWed to state and local . IOVcmmeat budgetary ..."tt"O, issues relating to c:a.pital financing for m1lIlicipalities, taX policy, regulatory issues, state and local govmllllent procu:ement programs, public-Private pan:nerships, aod Cedent issues relating to state and local govemmc::nts. :METROPOLITAN WEST FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC SERVICES (METWEST) Principals in the firm who contributed to this lIl31ysis include: Thom:lS W. Hayes, President: Prior tl:l joiDing MetWest, Mr. Hayes served as CJliet" Fiscal Advisor to California's Gov=or, California's State Treasurer, and Auditor GenC:ral for the State of California; Russell S. Qluld, Prindpalud Senior Achisor: Prior to joining MetWest, Mr. Gould served the State of California as Chief Fiscal Advisor to the Governor of California and was Secretalj" of California's Hea11h and Welfare Agency. Other members of Met West who contnOuted to ~s stw1y: L. Steven Spesrs" Managing Director: Prior to joining Mettopolitan W t::it, Mr. Sp~ Served as. California's Deputy State Treasurer for Public F;.,,,"re, legal coumeltD the Califomia State Board of Eq"~Ti",,rion, and senior consultant to ~ CaIifomia State Senate 011 revenue :and taxation issues. Lyle Defenbaugh, Assista.ll.t Managing Director: Mr. Def...,b9"g" repres:mtl!d local government agencies before the Legislatl1r8 and various state administrative and :r:gulatory bodies.. He also has served as the principal consultal1t tD the Califomia Assembly Committee on !.Qcal Govemmc:nt on reYeDl1C and hoV2tTt\n ma1tIi:rs. He also Sc:IVcd as a consultant to the San Francisco Cb.a:rm" ~jsion Comm;uion for tmance md administration.. LaFellUJ "Stan" Stal1ce!l, AdYisor: Mr. SWlccll is a former Chief Deputy Director of the Stare ofCalifomia's Department of Finance aod has served more than 30 ~ in budget-related capacities within the state. Mr. Stmcell exercised budget pl~"";"g and oversight for all capital outlay, higher educ:at:ion, camomic forec:uting, and revenue estimation.. S-l I/o q/tJqg 98-250 This 7eport ClUtIfMS the results of a study conducted by Met1'opolitarl West Finrmcial and Strategic SDViCf:S to determine budget implications faT the State and local goverrunenls wilhin California if P7oposition 9 on the NOllembe1' 1998 ballot were approved by the voters and fully implemenreD. TABLE OF CONTENTS Pa.ge No. Executive Summary...... ...... ................ ......... ........ .......... ... ..... .... ES-I Background.. ..._............ ................. ................ .......... ................ Legislative History ofElecttic IndustT7 .Rl:slIUcturing in California........................... ......... ..-.............-............... .-.. Implementation of Electric Utility Restructuring.... ..... p........ ........ .-- 1 I 2 Proposition 9........... ...... p ............................................. ........... Cal'fi .. .-, -. Pro 1 o:rma s .....,llallve cess.................................. ............... .... Basic: Provisions of Proposition 9........... ...... .... ......,. ......... .........- 2 2 2 PuIpose and Methodology of This Study... ... ... ......... ................,.... .... Impact on State ofCalifomia Budget.. ............. ..... .......... ............ ...... Findings.................. ..........................................:................. State Impact Associated with Liability for Rate Reduction Bonds..... . . .... Impact on State Borrowing Costs... ........... ........ ........... ................ Direct Impact on State Revenues ... .......... ..... ............ ...... ............ Sn...m"'}' ofSl:ate Bud,.oet Impact.............................. ......... ..... .... 3 3 3 4 7 12 14 Stale Budget Sc:enarios to Counter the Negative Impacts ofPrnposition 9.... Option I - Tax Increases ... .,. ............. .............. ..... ...-.. ....... ....~. Option II -Expenditure Reduct:iollS...... ............... ............... ......... Option ill - Combination of Revenue Increases and E;{pencliture Reductions. ........... .. . .......... . . . .... ...... . . .. . .. .. ......... . ... 15 16 18 24 . ,.... ~.....,...., .......,.,..,.vn I v~T~~~W ~T~qn~ ~~~ 98-250 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) EfI~t of Proposition 9 on the Fiscal Condition of Local Govmmumts in Cali.fornia~..---. _.. ............ ............ .0.. " ..........:.. ..... ... .............. ..... ..... I..... 27 Local BCITOwing Cost Increases.............. .___.__. .................. ....... ... 21 Impacts of Proposition 9011 Discretionary Revenues of Cities and Counties...;. __........... ..._............. ........ ......... ....................... 29 Impact of Proposition 9's Revenue Reductions an Local ~~......._.._..........................................................._.... 3S Local Properry Tax Revenue Reductions..........-................... ......... 38 Slate Property Tax Shift Potential.... ..._....... ...... ........... ................ 40 Discrimi:l1atory Impacts ofProporitiOl1 9 on CaIifomia lll:sidents..............--...........................-............................. ~1 S"",m~ry ofFi.scallmpacts to the State and to Local Govmunents........... 42 . Appcmdix A (Orril:k Heningtcn Letter to Elizabeth Hill on July 14, 1998)... A-I Appendix B (Department of Finanee and Legislative Analyst Letter to Honorable Daniel E. Luugren 011 January 26. 1998)...... .................. B.I Appendix C (Changes in Stale Tax Revenue-20% Rate Redul:tion)... ........ C.l Appendix D (Changes in State Tax R.evenuc-Disallowance ofTrsnsition Cha%1ges}................... ........ .............. .... ....... ......... .......... ...... .0... ,_ .... D-1 Appencllx E (Calcul3tion ofEfrc~ve Utility User's Tax and FIllD.Cbise Fee I!.ates).....................................--.................................-..... lS-1 Appendix F (Cban~es in Local Sales Tax Revenue-20% Rate.R.~tion).... F-l Appendix Q (Chmgcs in Local Sales Tax Revenue-Disallowm,c of Tnmsition Charges)........... ........._.__ ...... ....... ............. ....... ..... Q-l AppendiX K. (About the Ambon)..................... ......... ................. .... H-l .-......... ", ......,...~f"T,.., I -,....l'" 98-250 EXECUTIVE. SUMMARY PURPOSE OF Tms STUDY The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of the provisions of Proposition 9 on the fiscal condition of the State of California and local goverrunent agencies in California. Toward that end., and - - notwithstanding the fact that we are aware of a number of serious legal questions that likely will arise if Proposition 9 is approved by the voters, we have assumed that the Proposition is valid and enforceable in all respects. SUMMARY OF FINDll~GS EFFECTS ON THE STATE If Proposition 9 is successful at the polls, it will result in a signi:ficant negative impact to the state's General Fund budget. This will result from three primary considerations: ,. The State will incur costs of between S5.7 and S7.3 billion in the form of principal and interest payments to honor its pledge to make "adequate provision" to rate reduction bondholders. Moreover, our analysis indicates that, because the courts will in all likelihood require immediate payments to bondholders and because the State lacks explicit authority to strucrure a multi-year system of repayment, the budget problem created by this liability will have to be addressed in its entirely in the 1999- 2000 fiscal year. With a consistent history of meeting its financial pledges and obligations, the State, practically speaking, must honor its pledge to rate reduction bondholders or face grave fiscal repercussions. ,. The State will pay additional borrowing costs of approximately S1 billion over the life of bonds issued for public works projects during the transition period as a result of a market penalty (increased interest costs) associated with Proposition 9 's invalidation of the revenue stream securing the rate reduction bonds. Our analysis indicates that this increased interest penalty will range from a high of 50 basis points to a low of 15 basis points. The actual amount and duration of this market penalty will depend on the occurrence and success of other Proposition 9-like initiatives that disrupt the revenue stream for bonds and notes. If no similar initiatives appear on the ballot, the risk of the continuance of this penalty most likely will diminish over time. >- The State will experience General Fund revenue reductions of between S150 and S200 million because of reduced revenues for electric utilities caused by the prohibition against collection of transition charges. ES-l 98-250 Our analysis indicates that the combination of these factors will result in a $7 billion negative impact on the state's General Fund budget for the 1999-2000 fiscal year. This $7 billion gap will have to be closed through revenue increases, expenditure reductions, or some combination of the two approaches. An approach focused solely on increased revenues would require revenue increases of approximately $12 billion, because of the interplay of General Fund revenues with the minimum funding guarantee for K-12 schools and community colleges established by voter-approved Proposition 98. A revenue increase of this magnitude would require ralsmg: ,. Personal income tax rates by 38 percent, so that the top marginal tax rate would have to increase to 11.8 percent from the current 9.3 percent; or ,. The minimum state and local sales tax rate by approximately 3.15 percentage points, from 7.15 percent to 10.5 percent. If the Proposition 98 minimum funding guarantee were suspended, revenues still would have to be increased by over $6 billion. Under this scenario, the top marginal tax rate for the Personal Income Tax (pIT) would have to be increased to 11.1 percent or, alternatively, the minimum sales tax rate would have to be increased by 1.6 cents to 8.85 percent. Without revenue increases, expenditures would have to be reduced by over $6 billion. Expenditure reductions of this magnitude would result in severe impacts on all areas of discretionary General Fund spending, including: ,. Significant reductions in service levels and eligibility for Medi-Cal recipients; ,. Reductions in cash grants for aged, blind, and disabled clients and welfare recipients; ,. Increased student fees and reduced access to higher education; and ,. The release of tens of thousands of inmates from state correctional institutions. EFFECTS ON LOCAL GoVER.,.~NTS In addition to its impact on state finances, Proposition 9 also would have a significant impact on the fiscal condition oflocal governments by: ,. Increasing local borrowing costs by $9.6 billion over the life of bonds issued for local public works projects as a result of the same market penalty which would be imposed on the State; ES-2 98-250 ,. Reducing by Slll to S276 million, the amount of discretionary revenues available to cities and counties within the investor-owned utilities service areas as a result of reduced utility user's tax and franchise fee collections; and ,. Reducing the amount of property tax revenues available to cities, counties, schools, and special districts near the Diablo Canyon and San Onofre nuclear facilities by a significant amount, possibly as much as S221 million during the transition period, if those facilities are closed as a result of Proposition 9. These local revenue reductions will have to be addressed through significant service reductions or increases in general purpose taxes. Obviously, to the extent that the State were to shift a portion of its fiscal problem to local governments, as it has done in the past, the fiscal impact on local agencies would be even greater. IMPLEl\iIENTATION OF ELECTRICITY UTILITY RESTRUCTURL~G In January of 1998, the State of California initiated a restructuring of the electric utility industry. Legislation from 1996 (AB 1890, Brulte) and 1997 (5B 477, Peace), i established a process for transition to a competitive market for electricity for residential and business ratepayers. Basically, this legislation: ,. Provided ratepayers with the opportunity for greater choice in their provider of electricity as of January I, 1998; ,. Provided a 10 percent reduction in electric utility rates for residential and small commercial users -- relative to the level ofrates in place as of June 1996; >- Established a process wherein utility companies have the opportunity to recover the costs of investments that will be uneconomical under the competitive environment (known as "stranded costs") through the collection of a competition transition charge from ratepayers during a transition period defined as January 1, 1998 through March 31, 2002; and ,. Established a power exchange and an independent system operator to further develop a competitive market for electricity. Investor-owned utility companies are authorized to finance the 10 percent rate reduction with the sale of bonds through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. a public body within the State of California. AB 1890 authorized payment of principal and interest on the bonds by setting aside a portion of the collected transition charges. Although the legislation declared these bonds not to be an obligation of the State, the State did pledge in statute not to take any action to alter the rights of i Chapter 854, Statutes of 1996, (AB 1890, Brulte) and Chapter 275, Statutes of 1997, (SB 477, Peace). ES-3 98-250 , bondholders unless "adequate provision IS made m law for the protection of the bondholders. " PROPOSITION 9 Sponsored by the Utility Reform Network (TUR.t'D and Californians against Utility Taxes (CUT), Proposition 9 would become effective immediately upon approval of the voters in November 1998 and 'would: >- Prohibit the electric utility companies from recovering transition charges related to the costs of nuclear power plants; >- Prohibit electric utility companies from collecting transition charges related to the recovery of the cost of most non-nuclear stranded costs unless the CPUC finds that the collection of such charges is necessary for the utilities to earn a fair rate of return; >- Prohibit the collection of any charge related to repayment of the rate reduction bonds; and >- Finance a 20 percent rate reduction for residential and small commercial ratepayers from June 1996 rates - an additional 10 percent rate reduction over AB 1890 - presumably from the disallowance of transition charges. ES-4