Mayor unhappy with state legislature

State officials are proposing to take 8 percent of property tax away from local governments to help fix the State's budget crisis.

The tax raid will act as a loan to the state.

Upland is projected to lose $1.6 to $1.7 million.

"It's really easy to be a legislator when there's a lot of money," said Upland Mayor John Pomierski. "It's obviously a challenge when there isn't and we're all in a very challenging position right now. It's time to step up and do the right thing and the state really needs to step up."

The League of California Cities has created resolution with the support of more than 200 cities to fight the state's proposal.

Upland is considering joining other cities in taking the fight to Sacramento, Pomierski said.

"It's got to stop, it just needs to stop," Pomierski said.

"We're sick and tired of it, do your damn job. And I'm really disappointed in our governor, that he won't veto anything. He hasn't live up to his promises either. You can't be popular and do the work you have to do all the time."

Pomierski and the council were criticized a few years ago for temporarily removing a fire truck from duty to save the city money, he said.

"Nine years ago the first thing we did on the first meeting was park a fire truck to save $1 million a year," he said. "It was a really really tough decision, but we had to do it and the proof is in the pudding. A year later we put the truck back in play and started our recovery."

The currently has $10.9 million in reserves after making nearly $5 million in cuts in the last six months.

The 2009-2010 operating budget, approved during Monday's council meeting, is more than $40 million.

"You need to go up there and do what's best for the state and what's best for the state is quit spending money you don't have like we've had to do," said Pomierski referring to the state legislature.