Local Governments Spend Millions on Sacramento
Lobbying. Local governments
are spending a massive – and growing – amount of taxpayer dollars for
Sacramento lobbying, The Sacramento Bee reported February 8. In
2007-08, the amount spent was $58.3 million, up a whopping 33 percent over the
$43.7 million spent in 2006-07.
Leading the pack was
Los Angeles County, with $3.7 million spent on lobbyists. The city of Los
Angeles was not far behind, at $2.8 million. The Los Angeles Unified School
District spent $1.8 million in the same period. Dan Wall,
lobbyist for Los Angeles County, tried to justify the spending, saying the
budget fight in 2007-08 threatened more than $500 million in county dollars.
(Cal-Tax: It is worth noting that
representation in both houses of the state Legislature is based on population,
so Los Angeles residents have the largest number of elected officials
representing them in both the Senate and the Assembly.)
Jon Coupal,
president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said local government
lobbying "doesn't always serve the taxpayer well." He added, "We
believe a lot of wasted money goes into local government lobbying."
Lobbying dollars
spent by type of local government in 2007-08:
|
|
(in millions) |
|
Counties |
$27.0 |
|
Cities |
$25.3 |
|
Schools |
$6.1 |
With this year's budget crunch at the local level, some jurisdictions
are cutting back, but it is unclear how many will do so. Twin Rivers Unified
School District, in Sacramento County, says no funds have been budgeted this
year for lobbying. The city of Folsom, which spent $139,980 in the past two
years for lobbyists, last month decided to abandon Sacramento lobbying.
However, Jackson Gualco, president of the Institute
of Government Advocates, said he is not aware of any statewide trend by local
governments to cut lobbying. (Source: The
Sacramento Bee, February 8.)
Cal-Taxletter, February 13, 2009
© 2009 California Taxpayers'
Association.
All Rights Reserved.