An 11th-hour effort to block bonds being issued to the Sacramento Kings from the city of Anaheim is well under way – and could theoretically block a move pending a June, 2012 election.

“(The $75 million bond issuance) was a quick deal, and the citizens (of Anaheim) will have an interest in reviewing that,” said Jeffrey Dorso, a Sacramento attorney working with the Committee to Save the Kings.

The movement includes former Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters, who gave a donation to kick off a signature collection drive that needs about 10,000 signatures to potentially block the bonds, Dorso said.

Arno Political Consultants of Carlsbad, Calif., have already collected about half the required signatures, said Kellen Arno, an associate with the company.

“The signature drive is going well,” he said. “We started last Friday. We are a little bit more than halfway done.”

If the required signatures are collected within 60 days of the Anaheim City Council decision to approve the bonds, the effort would have to be approved by Anaheim’s citizens in an election.

Dorso said state law allows citizens to gather signatures for referendums such as this.

The next scheduled election the measure could be placed on a ballot is June, 2012, Dorso said, adding that Anaheim could call a special election, but it would be costly.

Calls to officials in Anaheim were not returned Friday afternoon.

Even if the signatures are collected and the bonds are not issued to the Sacramento Kings, there is no way of stopping the money being issued through private lenders.

“The big pitfall is that it could happen regardless,” Dorso said. “They could come up with other ways to fund the $75 million.”

Dorso is a resource and development attorney and Sacramento native who wants to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

“It’s much bigger than basketball,” he said. “It’s about jobs, business and keeping business in Sacramento. It’s not an emotional issue.”

Putting a stop to the public bond measure in Anaheim could possibly keep the Kings in Sacramento, which would give the region more time to come up with options for keeping the Kings here, Dorso said.

Arno said most areas only allow 30 days to collect signatures for referendums, but Anaheim’s city charter allows for 60 days, giving them more time.

“If we get the signatures, those bonds are not available until the election,” Dorso said. “Regardless of the NBA’s actions, the NBA can’t trump state law.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.