Elk Grove To Consider $100,000 Budget Request For Charter Commission Activities, Outreach

The City of Elk Grove will consider a $100,000 request in its Fiscal Year 2010 budget for the city charter commission activities according to comments made by city attorney Susan Cochran. The comments were made at last night's city charter commission meeting.

According to Cochran, the city had allotted $50,000 for the current year but had spent slightly less than $43,000. The balance, Cochran said, would go back to the city’s general fund.

”I think I included $100,000 in your budget for the coming fiscal year because that was going to be much more of outreach portion of your program,” Cochran said.

Cochran cited a recent California court case, Vargas v. City of Salinas, that justifies the city’s use of funds promoting passage of a proposed charter. According to Cochran this ruling allows governments more latitude in advocating with public funds its position regarding matters on a referendum.

In the last year, spending by the charter commission have included expenditures for public relations consultants to facilitate community informational workshops.


Listen to the audio of the entire meeting.