BILL NUMBER: ABX1 34 VETOED DATE: 07/08/2011 To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill X1 34 without my signature. The Senior Citizens' Property Tax Postponement Law was enacted beginning for the 1977-1978 fiscal year to give property tax relief to seniors. It was subsequently expanded to include blind and disabled persons. The law was suspended in 2009 due to the realities of the state's budget. AB X1 34 would repeal the suspension so that postponement claims can once again be accepted by the Controller. In addition, the bill would establish a new fund in the State Treasury and provide a continuous appropriation for the Controller to pay postponement claims. Given the very significant cuts to state and local core public services that are occurring, the state cannot afford the $19.3 million that the Department of Finance estimates this bill would cost during the 2011-2012 fiscal year or the continuing estimated annual revenue cost of $30 million. For this reason I am unable to sign the bill. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.