HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-044 CCRadoption: Member Diane Niesen introduced the following resolution and moved its
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-44
RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE TAX AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION
PROPOSALS (TaBOR AND SIMILAR PROPOSALS)
WHEREAS, the Taxpayers League and others are endorsing proposals to amend the
State Constitution to institute tax and expenditure limitations at the state, and potentially local, levels
of government that could only be overridden by a vote of the people - an example of these proposals
is the "Taxpayers Bill of Rights"; and
WHEREAS, such proposals would tie the hands of state and local leaders in times of
crisis and other unpredictable circumstances, putting state and local governments on "auto pilot" and
circumventing thoughtful consideration of policy decisions; and
WHEREAS, such proposals would prevent state and local officials from making the
tough decisions they were elected to make, passing the responsibility for learning all aspects of often
complex issues to citizens who have other jobs and responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, such proposals are unnecessary - a "solution in search of a problem" -
as demonstrated by lawmakers at both state and local levels of government taking action to deal with
one of the worst budget crises to hit the State of Minnesota and, by result, Minnesota's cities; and
WHEREAS, this is further demonstrated by the fact that state and local spending as a
percentage of personal income has actually declined in recent years, even before the 2003 deficit; and
WHEREAS, regardless of whether TaBOR/TELs are applied just to the State or to
local governments as well, these proposals would bring great harm to local communities through
continued reductions in state funding, increases in unfunded State mandates, and, potentially, direct
tax and expenditure limitations at the local level, which would severely erode decision-making at the
local level and the ability to provide the basic services residents and businesses expect and deserve;
and
WHEREAS, such proposals would force the State, and potentially cities, to spend
valuable time and money asking for permission from the same people who elected them before any
action can be taken on important issues, and would also force taxpayers to pay twice for governance
- once for elections of their State and local officials, and again for elections to make the decisions
those officials should have made; and
WHEREAS, such proposals contradict the fundamental principles upon which our
constitution and system of government are based - that representative, not direct, democracy is the
most effective form of government as it is most likely to result in good public policy; and
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-44
WHEREAS, those states that have instituted proposals similar to the Taxpayers Bill
of Rights, such as Colorado, now face severe problems in meeting the basic needs of their citizenry.
1
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Brooklyn Center that this Council believes that state and local elected officials are elected to do a
job - that job is to represent the interests of their constituents, to deal with difficult decisions, to
thoughtfully debate and determine the best course of action for the state or the community they
serve.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council opposes limits on state and/or local
taxes and expenditures, whether through constitutional amendment or other means, and supports the
principle of representative democracy as the best route to sound public policy.
March 8. 2004
Date
Mayor V
ATTEST: cJ60a&fiA &q ,b x,l/a'►'ll
City Clerk U
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member
Kathleen Carmody
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:
Myrna Kragness, Kathleen Carmody, Diane Niesen, and Bob Peppe;
and the following voted against the same: none;
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.