HomeMy WebLinkAbout93-119RESOLUTION NO. 93-119
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVES 601 AND 602
WHEREAS, The citizenry of the United States, the State of
Washington, and the cities and towns expect their governments to
be wise stewards of public funds, and concurrently be responsive
to increasing service demands; and
WHEREAS, During periods of economic growth and rising revenues,
governments tend to 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 proposed initiatives to limit state spending and
revenue capacity; and
WHEREAS, cities and towns share with the state and other units of
local government the responsibility for the delivery of
governmental services to the citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Ail 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 both Initiative 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
WH~, Initiative 602 would also repeal new and increased taxes
and fees imposed by the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, The rollback in those taxes and fees enacted in 1993
would substantially erode the capacity of the state to maintain
vital programs, including many that either directly or indirectly
impact cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, Approval of either of those initiatives would likely
WHEREAS, Approval of either of those initiatives would likely
result in reduction of state collected-locally shared revenue
allocations to cities and towns, including funds received from
the recently reenacted criminal justice assistance program; and
WHEREAS, Cities and towns do not have the discretionary fiscal
capacity to replace those important programs that might be
reduced or eliminated as a result of adoption of Initiative 601
and 602; and
WHERF~, Adoption of either of those initiatives would have a
chilling impact on the ability of cities and towns to secure
approval of new state programs addressing city concerns, or on
the capacity of cities and towns to secure additional taxing
authority from the state; and
WHEREA~, In the states of Oregon and California, which have
experienced tax and spending initiatives, local governments have
been adversely impacted; and
W=~EREAS, 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 Townsend opposes
Initiatives 601 and 602;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The association recommends that the
governor and Legislature jointly establish a task force to
examine the need for an intertemporal fiscal management process
that allows for the implementation of new programs, the
elimination of expenditures of reduced importance, and the
reallocation of resources from periods of economic growth to
cover shortfalls during economic downturns.
Adopted by the City Council of the Ci~rt Townsend and
signed by the Mayor this /~ day~l/~n, ~/ ,1993.
Attest: ~--
~ ~ fn M. Clise, Mayor
David A. Grove, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Dennis McLerran, City Attorney~