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Subject: Communication from the Alderman of the 5th District requesting that a resolution be drafted on Municipal Finance.
Recommend: that the following advisory Resolution on municipal finance be adopted:
Whereas, the taxpayers of Racine elected the members of the Racine Common Council to represent them and make decisions concerning City spending and services provided, and
Whereas, the State of Wisconsin has placed municipalities in a precarious situation by imposing Expenditure Restraints, Levy limits and freezing or reducing Shared Revenues since 1995, and
Whereas, the State and Federal governments are relying on local government to provide emergency services in case of an attack in the United States or other disasters, and
Whereas, Wisconsin Cities have been forced by State funding withdrawals and escalating costs of operations including fuel costs and health insurance costs to cut emergency services including police and fire, and
Whereas, we believe that we can make the best decisions at the local municipal level regarding municipal spending and services, and
Whereas, State mandated levy limits and expenditure restraints tie the hands of local municipalities who not only cannot maintain local services but are forced to make cuts that can potentially place firefighters, police officers, and other public servants in harms way and put the public at added risk.
Now Therefore, be it resolved that the Common Council of Racine rejects any State program that undermines our local decision making, including our ability to determine spending and service level appropriate for the taxpayers of Racine, and
Furthermore, that if the State of Wisconsin continues any Expenditure Restraint Program and Levy Limit Programs the State must provide exemptions to these programs for Cities to maintain essential police, fire, and ambulance services or provide alternative ways to finance these essential services, and
Furthermore, that the City Clerk be directed to s...
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