RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 486 (MIGDEN), LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, in the 1990s the state Legislature shifted property taxes dedicated to local governments to an Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF), which utilizes local government revenue to supplant the state’s financial obligation to pay for educational programs; and

WHEREAS, San Mateo County has lost over $1 billion in local revenues to ERAF; and

WHEREAS, in a few counties, including San Mateo County, there is more money in ERAF than is needed to pay for education purposes; and

WHEREAS, State Department of Education and the State Department of Finance staffs believe that state law requires ERAF money to pay for licensed care institutions that provide private residential programs for children with developmental, behavioral and learning disabilities—regardless of the children’s county of origin; and

WHEREAS, under the view of the state’s departments of Education and Finance, counties like San Mateo County would be required to pay for the licensed care institution services for children from other counties that have been placed in San Mateo County; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 486 states that money from ERAF for special education programs shall not be counted as an offset for the state aid for Licensed Care Institutions;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by the adoption of this resolution hereby supports Senate Bill 486 regarding local government finance.

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