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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-120APRIL 14, 2009 09-120 RESOLUTION (CARRIED 6-0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: REQUEST THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE PROVIDE RELIEF FROM EXPENDITURE RESTRAINT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INITIATED BY: CITY ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, the national economic downturn is placing extraordinary stress on Wisconsin cities; and WHEREAS, local governments need tools to deal with this stress and do not need state-imposed barriers that detract from their ability to continue to serve their citizens; and WHEREAS, provisions of Wisconsin's expenditure restraint program, proposed increases in contribution rates to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), increased "tipping fees" (without a commensurate increase in recycling grants) and an inadequate ceiling on levy increases proposed in the state budget bill all conspire to increase the stress on local governments in Wisconsin, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Oshkosh joins the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities to urge the Governor and Legislature to either eliminate levy limits or: - Set a more realistic limit of 4% or net new construction value, whichever is greater. - Exempt any shared revenue cuts from a municipality's levy limits. - Exempt emergency and state-mandated expenditures from levy limits. (e.g., tipping fees) - Exempt from levy limits the cost of increases in the WRS contribution rate. - Include new construction on tax exempt property as though it were subject to the levy. - Include a carryover for unused levy capacity of any prior year. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Oshkosh joins the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities to urge the Governor and the Legislature to exempt all grants from the limits of the Expenditure Restraint Program and to establish a 3% floor on the inflation factor in the formula; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Oshkosh joins the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities to urge the Governor and the Legislature to allow non-property tax sources of revenue for local governments in Wisconsin, including a surcharge on telecommunications companies to help fund emergency responders and passing a regional economic development incentive, either with funding or a sunrise.