Letter to Governor

* An open letter to Gov. Gray Davis:

I am respectfully requesting that you convene an extraordinary session of the Legislature to address fiscal equity for California’s local governments.

California’s local governments provide much of the infrastructure and many of the services that support economic growth and ensure our state’s quality of life. Where would our taxpayers be without clinics and hospitals for the working uninsured or treatment programs and housing for the mentally ill or the substance abuse treatment and counseling programs for youth? While some of our services do not directly serve the average taxpayer, it is more important is that we serve those who cannot help themselves; the very young, the elderly, the sick and abused. We have provided these necessary services for years without much discretion or control and with even less financing from the state.

In requesting that you convene an extraordinary session of the Legislature, I am doing so in hopes that you will provide the leadership to bring fairness into the state / local government partnership.

FRANK SCHILLO

Ventura County Supervisor

Thousand Oaks