City of Eastvale, CA (April 10, 2014) — On April 3, 2014, the Assembly voted 42-22 to pass H.R. 29 less than 24 hours after it had its first and only committee hearing. H.R. 29 puts the Assembly on official record opposing state and local governments from contracting with nonprofits, other government agencies or private businesses to provide the best services in the most fiscally responsible matter. The Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security passed the measure on April 2, 2014 sending the measure to the Assembly for a floor vote. That vote was not expected to occur until next week; however, it was jammed through and shortly after 9:00 a.m. Thursday, April; 3rd the Assembly passed H.R. 29.
Upon learning of this last minute action by the Assembly, Mayor Ike Bootsma expressed both shock and disappointment in the Assembly Members who voted yes on this measure. “I commend and respect Assemblyman Eric Linder and the other “no” votes for taking a well thought-out position on this measure which is critical to the service model for the City of Eastvale. We, like many of our neighboring cities, are a contract city for much of our services including police and fire and H.R. 29 sets a precedent that could really hurt us in the future,” said Mayor Bootsma.
H.R. 29 discourages local governments from seeking out the best options to deliver local services in the most fiscally responsible way possible. “This is upsetting and an insult to taxpayers but what’s also troubling is that the rushed manner in which this was conducted flies in the face of good government and transparency,” said Mayor Bootsma.
A House Resolution is not legislation and does not have the force of law. However this resolution asks legislators to vote to commit how they pledge to vote on future bills related to public agency contracting. Taxpayers rely on their local officials to wisely invest their hard-earned money to provide services such as police, fire, waste collection, water and sewer, infrastructure maintenance and much more. Often the best option for a city and its taxpayers is to contract for the services.
Contracting for specific services or expertise with outside nonprofit organizations and businesses is a long-standing option that local governments have effectively used for decades to deliver quality services at the lowest cost. California cities have a long history of addressing service delivery challenges with creativity, self-reliance and innovation. The April 3rd action in the Assembly was an unnecessary and ill-considered rush to judgment on an issue that deserves more extensive debate and consideration.
