STATEMENT FROM COALITION TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA’S BUDGET & ECONOMY ON RELEASE OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET

SACRAMENTO –The Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy today issued the following statement from Lt. Ron Cottingham, President of Peace Officers Research Association of California, in response to the release of the Governor’s 2008 budget:

“Our state is facing a severe budget crisis, and vital public services that many Californians count on are at risk of losing their funding. A Yes vote on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97 would provide hundreds of millions of dollars year after year into the state’s general fund, totaling more than $9 billion, to help with the budget crisis – without raising taxes. Voting No would only make our budget problems worse and place many services that we rely upon at risk.”

The agreements in Propositions 94, 95, 96 & 97 were negotiated by the Governor and ratified by a bipartisan majority of the Legislature. Under these agreements, the Agua Caliente, Morongo, Pechanga and Sycuan tribes will pay a much higher percentage of their net gaming revenues – up to 25% – to the state. In all, these payments will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to the state each year.

According to a study conducted by Alan Meister, Ph.D., an economist with Analysis Group, Inc., on the potential economic and fiscal benefits of Propositions 94, 95, 96 & 97, the net direct total statewide fiscal benefits over the life of the amended compacts included in the initiatives are approximately $16 billion, including well over $9 billion in revenue sharing payments to the State's General Fund and:

• $5.4 billion in State and local taxes;
• $275 million in revenue sharing payments to local governments and;
• $128 million in revenue sharing payments to non-gaming tribes.

A broad coalition of public safety, taxpayer, education, labor, local government, business, Indian Tribes and community groups support Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Media with additional inquiries about the Coalition to Protect California’s Budget & Economy can contact Roger Salazar at (916) 444-8897.