HomeMy WebLinkAbout4534RESOLUTION NO. 4 5 3 4
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON,
STATING THE CITY COUNCIL'S OPPOSITION
TO INITIATIVE 1033 ON THE NOVEMBER 3,
2009, GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
WHEREAS, Initiative 1033 will be presented to the voters of the State of
Washington at the general election on November 3, 2009, with the following
official Ballot Title:
INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 1033 CONCERNS STATE, COUNTY AND CITY REVENUE.
THIS MEASURE WOULD LIMIT GROWTH OF CERTAIN STATE, COUNTY
AND CITY REVENUE TO ANNUAL INFLATION AND POPULATION GROWTH, NOT
INCLUDING VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE INCREASES. REVENUE COLLECTED
ABOVE THE LIMIT WOULD REDUCE PROPERTY TAX LEVIES.
SHOULD THIS MEASURE BE ENACTED INTO LAW? YES NO
and
WHEREAS, this year Washington state and its cities and counties have
faced devastating budget deficits that forced the legislators and elected officials
to make very tough cuts to basic services, as well as to essential governmental
programs, but under Initiative 1033, this year's governmental budgets would be
locked in as the baseline for all future budgets, notwithstanding the hard-felt
budget cuts and intrusions into limited reserves to fund governmental services;
and
WHEREAS, under Initiative 1033, general fund revenue for any year
would be limited to the amount of revenue received by the state, county or city,
as applicable, in the previous year, plus a percentage increase reflecting inflation
and population growth; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM)
has estimated that Initiative 1033 will reduce state general fund revenues that
Resolution No. 4534
September 28, 2009
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support education; social, health, and environmental services; and general
government activities by $5.9 billion by 2015; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 1033 would remove money from the state general
fund at a time when the state already faces a significant projected revenue
shortfall for the 2009 - 2010 biennium; and
WHEREAS, OFM has further estimated that Initiative 1033 will reduce
general fund revenues that support public safety, infrastructure and general
governmental activities by $694 million for counties and $2.1 billion for cities by
2015; and
WHEREAS, the effect of the Initiative 1033 revenue limitation is
exacerbated during a recession as the Initiative does not provide for recovery in
the event of an economic downturn and that Initiative 1033 would provide that
none of the cuts made in public services as a result of the current recession
could be restored without a public vote, which public votes take time, cost money
and allow politics and special interest money to influence the outcome; and
WHEREAS, the effect of Initiative 1033 is a significant shift away from
representative government, in that it would take away the current power of
elected public representatives to make budget decisions, and it would essentially
turn the process into budgeting by referendum, not just for the State of
Washington, but for all 39 counties and all 281 cities in the state; and
WHEREAS, limitations in Initiative 1033 would lower taxes already limited
by the current levy lid provisions in Chapter 84.55 RCW; and
WHEREAS, as provided in RCW 42.17.130, the City Council of the City of
Auburn desires to show its opposition to Initiative 1033.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. The City Council, after considering testimony at a duly noticed
public hearing, hereby opposes Initiative 1033.
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September 28, 2009
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Section 2. The City Council hereby urges citizens to vote no on Initiative
1033 on November 3, 2009.
Section 3. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage
and signatures hereon.
~
Passed by the City Council this d of 2009.
=
PETER B. LEWIS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
R
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APP TO F?r
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niel B. H°eid; City AttorneV-------
Resolution No. 4534
September 28, 2009
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