Opponents and supporters of a November ballot measure to cut utilities rates in the city released their fundraising statements Tuesday. The new campaign statements provide information about money raised in recent months up to Sept. 30. The statements showed that the Yes on Measure B campaign had raised more than six times the money of the opposing campaign in the past few months. The No on Measure B campaign raised $6,000 by Sept. 30. Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 447 gave $5,000 to the campaign, while the Friends of Steve Cohn for City Council 2010 committee contributed the remaining $1,000. The Campaign for Common Sense Utilities Rates, which backs Measure B, had raised $39,822 from J

Some Sacramento City Council members say the city could be harmed if voters halt California’s global warming law in November. A handful of council members have publicly opposed Proposition 23, a ballot measure that would block state regulations relating to global warming.  Backers of Prop. 23 want to freeze AB 32, the state’s global warming law, arguing that it hurts businesses in California. When the state’s unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or lower over four continuous quarters, AB 32 would go into effect again, the ballot measure states. The title of the measure is the “California Jobs Initiative.” The state’s unemployment rate was 12.3 percent in June, according to the federal

The heat is still on: Public controversy continues to surround claims that the city’s uses of utilities funds broke state law. In the latest development, the city plans to send written responses to claims made by the Sacramento County Grand Jury. In a Jan. 6 report, the Grand Jury argued that the city’s use of utilities dollars may overstep Proposition 218, a state law that guides the usage of city funds. The grand jury report claims that money collected from residents’ utility bills may have been used to fund other municipal programs. Prop. 218 states that cities can use funds from utilities bills in one way: to cover the costs of delivering utilities services, according to the report.

A local group that watches public funds hopes to take its complaints over utilities rates to the polls.  The Sacramento County Taxpayers League's new ballot proposal seeks to stop a 9.2 percent city utilities rate increase scheduled to start in July.  The proposal follows a Jan. 6 grand jury report saying that the city’s use of utilities funds may conflict with Proposition 218, a state law that dictates how city funds should be used.  The grand jury report claims that money collected from residents' utility bills may have been used to fund other municipal programs. Prop. 218 states that cities can use funds from utilities bills in one way: to cover the costs of delivering utilities servi

A sweeping proposal to cut costs at government agencies statewide could cut into the retirement benefits of new city employees in Sacramento, according to the initiative’s author. The proposal, which would tighten employees' retirement benefits, comes from the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility. Citrus Heights accountant Marcia Fritz, the proposal's author, wrote in an e-mail that the initiative’s rules would apply to new Sacramento city employees and all other new government personnel starting July 1, 2011. She said she aims to put the proposal on the November 2010 ballot. The initiative states that benefits for current public employees would not change. Raising funds for