Laserfiche WebLink
• POLICY Hl <br />3/10/04 <br />ITEM: Tax and Expenditure Limitations (TEL) Resolution <br />SUBMITTED BY: Heather Worthington, City Administrator <br />REVIEWED BY: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Lamb, Lindstrom, Kuettel and <br />Talbot <br />EXPLANATION: <br />Summary: The League of Minnesota Cities has requested that cities adopt the following <br />resolution regarding the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. <br />TABOR would impose tax and expenditure (TEL) at the state, and potentially, local levels of <br />government that could only be overridden by a vote of the people. <br />The LMC's legislative policy for TELs states: <br />1. Minnesota cities oppose TELs, including the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). <br />. 2. TELs/TABOR are unnecessary and would tie the hands of lawmakers and city officials. <br />3. TELs/TABOR would circumvent thoughtful consideration of policy decisions. <br />4. If applied to cities, TELs/TABOR would translate into direct and very severe impacts on <br /> city services. <br />5. If applied to the State, TELs/TABOR will encourage more state aid cuts and unfunded <br /> mandates. <br />6. Minnesota cities need more, not less, tools to serve residents and deal with challenges- <br /> TELs/TABOR in any form would tie the hands of local leaders. <br />7. TELs/TABOR are a solution in search of a problem. <br />Further, the League's research shows that contrary to proponents of TELs/TABOR, government <br />spending is actually going down-in 2003, spending was 15.1 percent of personal income, down <br />from 17.5 percent in 1996. <br />ATTACHMENT: <br />Resolution, with changes as recommended by the Council, on pages • <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />• Discussion <br />• Motion <br />.] <br />30 <br />