R93-156 IN SUPPORT OF REDUCING UNFUNDED MANDATES

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RESOLUTION NO. R -/ � - ��.(p RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REDUCING UNFUNDED MANDATES WHEREAS, unfunded mandates on state and local governments have increased significantly in recent years; and, WHEREAS, federal mandates require cities and towns to perform duties without consideration of local circumstances, costs or capacity, and subject municipalities to civil or criminal penalties for noncompliance; and, WHEREAS, federal mandates require compliance regardless of other pressing local needs and priorities affecting the health, welfare, and safety of municipal citizens; and, WHEREAS, excessive federal burdens on local governments force some combination of higher local taxes and fees and/or reduced local services on citizens and local taxpayers; and, WHEREAS, federal mandates are too often inflexible, one-size fits-all requirements that impose unrealistic time frames and specify procedures or facilities where less costly alternatives might be just as effective; and, WHEREAS, existing mandates impose harsh pressures on local i budgets and the federal government has imposed a freeze upon ��, funding to help compensate for any new mandates; and, ', WHEREAS, the cumulative impact of these legislative and � regulatory actions directly affect the citizens of our cities and towns; and, WHEREAS, the National League of Cities, in conjunction with other state and local government representatives, has begun a national public education campaign to help citizens understand and then reduce the burden and inflexibility of unfunded mandates, beginning with a National Unfunded Mandates Day on October 27 , 1993 . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS: Section 1. The City of Decatur endorses the efforts of the National League of Cities and supports working with NLC to fully inform our citizens about the impact of federal mandates on our government and the pocketbooks of our citizens.