A New Level of Advocacy

The dysfunction of the state budget process has reached crisis proportions.  The expectation that advocates for one vital service will fight against another local service for scarce dollars is unacceptable.  The choice is not whether to fund schools or police, health care or fire protection.  The choice is whether California develops and implements a fair system of financing and decision making that will ensure the stability of all critical core services needed for a healthy community or continues the unfair, unstable, dysfunctional state finance system that we currently have.

A group of Davis community members have joined forces as Saving California Communities (SCC) to advocate for permanent structural budget reform at the state level.  This group brings together county, city and school elected representatives, educators, parents, students, city directors, health professionals, university and community college representatives, senior citizens, government employees and business owners.

The SCC Mission

Our mission is to advocate for the resources necessary to support healthy California communities.

Our Guiding Principles

Our guiding principles in support of this mission are:

• Healthy Communities
  Healthy communities rely on an array of local services – education, safety, health, and public works – that address the needs of the whole community.
• Responsive Government
  While key regional and state services are essential, local government agencies are best placed to respond to the needs of their communities.
• Stable Revenue
  California’s communities must be supported through stable revenue streams for basic, essential services.
• Alignment of Resources, Responsibility and Accountability
  State-level reform is necessary to support functional government that aligns authority, responsibility, resources and accountability.
• United Voices
  United community voices carry a powerful message for structural reform of the state system of governance.  Combined efforts best serve the common good; pitting the interests of one essential service against another essential service is harmful to the entire community.
• Public Engagement
  Public participation and advocacy are essential in mobilizing for reform.