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feb Z7 2BB4 16:43:50 VU Fax ->♦0S22494616 AdMinistrator Page 004 or 006 <br />CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION <br />RESOLUTION # <br />A RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE TAX AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION PROPOSALS <br />(TaBOR and Similar Propoialt) <br />WHEREAS, the Taxpayers League and others are endorsing proposals to amend the State <br />Constitution to institute tax and expenditure limitations at the state, and potentially local, levels <br />of government that could only be overridden by a vote of the people - an example of these <br />proposals is the ‘Taxpayers Bill of Rights"; <br />WHEREAS, such proposals would tie the hands of state and local leaders in tinrtes of crisis and <br />other unpredictable circumstances, putting state and local governments on “auto pilot" and <br />circumventing thoughtful consideration of policy decisions; <br />WHEREAS, such proposa'.s would prevent state and local officials from making the tough <br />decisions they were elected to make, passing the responsibility for learning all aspects of often <br />complex issues to citizens who have other jobs and responsibilities; <br />WHEREAS, amending the constitution is a virtually irrevocable action and should only be <br />undertaken when legislative remedies have proven inadequate; <br />WHEREAS, such proposals are unnecessary - a “solution in search of a problem" - as <br />denwnstrated by lawmakers at both state and local levels of government taking action to deal <br />with one of the worst budget crises to hit the State of Minnesota and, by result, Minnesota’s <br />cities; <br />WHEREAS, this is fUrther demonstrated by the fact that state and local spending as a percentage <br />of personal income has actually declined in recent years, even before the 2003 deficit; <br />WHEREAS, regardless of whether TaBOR/TELs are applied just to the State or to local <br />governments as well, these proposals would bring great harm to local communities through <br />continued reductions in state funding, increases in unfunded State mandates, and, potentially, <br />direct tax and expenditure limitations at the local level, which would severely erode decision* <br />making at the local level and the ability to provide the basic services residents and businesses <br />expect and deserve; <br />WHEREAS, such proposals would force the State, and potentially cities, to spend valuable time <br />and money asking for permission from the same people who elected them before any action can <br />be taken on important issues, and would also force taxpayers to pay twice for governance - once <br />for elections of their State and local officials, and again for elections to make the decisions those <br />officials should have made. <br />WHEREAS, such proposals contradict the fundamental principles upon which our constitution <br />and system of government are based - that representative, not direct, democracy is the most <br />effective form of government as it is nnost likely to result in good public policy;