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In a telephone press conference this morning with various mayors from across the state, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa fervently said that he and other cities "will not accept a flawed budget." It's been a consistent theme since Tuesday, the morning after a state budget solution was agreed upon by state leaders. The full legislature is expected to vote on the proposal as early as tonight. "Some may believe the spin," Villaraigosa warned, citing how the budget solution is balanced on the backs of local governments and the education system. Mayor Bob Foster of Long Beach noted that 22% of the proposal relies on local government money.
Back in April, local governments sued the state and won over the state trying to take redevelopment money to fill holes in the general budget, said Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose. According to him, the state's constitution specifically says redevelopment money can only be used for redevelopment purposes. If the money is taken away from agencies, bonds will not be paid and cities will once again take the state to court. Both will end up costing the tax payers.
Other Mayors involved in Villaraigosa coalition include Ashley Swearengin of Fresno, Kevin Johnson of Sacramento and Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana.
