HomeMy WebLinkAbout38-93 RESOLUTION NO. 3 8 - 9 3
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City
of Port Angeles, Washington expressing
opposition to Initiatives 601 and 602.
WHEREAS, citizens expect.their governments to be wise stewards of public funds and
still be responsible for increasing service demands; and
WHEREAS, during periods of economic growth and rising revenues, governments
respond to the demand for increased and expanded services; and
WHEREAS, during periods of economic downturn and falling revenues, state
government and occasionally local governments have increased taxes and fees as a means of
sustaining services; and
WHEREAS, recent state tax increases and proposed federal tax increases have resulted
in increased citizen dissatisfaction with government and in proposed initiatives to limit state
spending and revenue capacity; and
WHEREAS, local governments are dependent on the Legislature for authorization to
impose taxes and to receive state-collected/locally-shared revenues; and
WHEREAS, cities and towns receive almost one-tenth of their operating budget
revenues from state-collected/locally-shared revenues; and
WHEREAS, the intent of Initiatives 601 and 602 is to reduce the capacity of the state
to provide services by limiting the ability of the state to either expend revenues or to increase
taxes; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 602 would also repeal new and increased taxes and fees
imposed by the Legislature in 1993; and'
WHEREAS, the rollback in those taxes and fees enacted in 1993 would substantially
erode the capacity of the state to maintain important funding and programs, including many
that either directly or indirectly impact the Cityof Port Angeles, such as housing assistance
programs, school district/city sports and recreation programs, criminal justice programs,
growth management funding, and health care programs; and
WHEREAS, approval of either Initiatives 601 or 602 would likely result in reduction
of state-collected/locally-shared revenue allocations to the City of Port Angeles, including
funds received from the recently re-enacted criminal justice assistance program which could
result in reduction or elimination of the City' s DARE program and/or the City's participation
with the Clallam County Drug Task Force;and
WHEREAS, the City of Port Angeles does not have the discretionary fiscal capacity
to replace funds from the state revenue sources that might be reduced or eliminated as a
result of adoption of Initiative 601 and 602; and
WHEREAS, adoption of either Initiative 601 or 602 would have a chilling impact on
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the ability of cities and towns to secure approval of new state programs addressing city
concerns, and on the capacity of cities and towns to secure additional taxing authority from
the state; and
WHEREAS, in the states of Oregon and California, which have experienced tax and
spending initiatives, local governments have been adversely impacted; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Governor and the Legislature to enact such
new taxes and fees, and provide for the growth in state spending as is necessary to address
the needs of the state;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Port Angeles opposes
Initiatives 601 and 602; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Port Angeles recommends that the
Governor and Legislature jointly establish a task force to examine the need for a long-term
planning and fiscal management process that allows for the implementation of new programs,
the elimination of expenditures of reduced importance, and the reallocation of resources from
>eriods of economic growth to cover shortfalls during economic downturns.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the 19th day of October , 1993.
ATTEST:
Becky J. ~t~t~n,~City ~ler~--
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
craig~D (~:uts~on.~
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