Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, January 18, 2011,
Item 3
>> item number 3 is consider and take appropriate action on request for a resolution in support of an amendment to the Texas constitution prohibiting state imposition of unfunded mandates on local government.
what we've done here really is to take the recommendation of c.u.c.
and we're proposing its resolution.
mr. Eckstein, anything in addition?
>> no, sir, the house sponsor is representative burt solomon of carrollton.
he is currently the chair of the house state affairs committee so this is obviously a very important member of the house and we're very happy with him taking leadership on this issue.
I would ask the court for permission once the court has adopted the resolution to communicate this to the members of our delegation with the request that they join representative solomon in -- as co-sponsors of the resolution and also I believe that there will be a senate version filed within the next few days and that we would also invite the senators on our delegation, senator watson, senator wentworth, to also join as co-sponsors.
>> can you tell me who else on the agenda such as this Commissioners court similar resolution?
it's just not Travis County.
there are other counties also.
>> as a matter of fact, you are exactly right, Commissioner Davis.
I think many of the counties across the state are very interested in this issue, as well as municipalities who also have unfunded mandates placed upon them from time to time.
we're looking at a very dramatic budget situation, and I think the timing of this is excellent in that we have the concern that as the legislature maybe steps away from funding some of the programs they have done, that they not turn those into unfunded mandates on counties and other local governments.
>> by the way, I did not go to the c.u.c.
luncheon, but I understand the leadership of the conference on urban counties asked all members to approve this resolution.
>> that's correct.
and also the Texas association of counties has a similar resolution and they are asking all 254 counties in Texas to act in their Commissioners courts as you are in approving this resolution.
>> and similarly, community colleges and school districts are also bringing it before their boards for approval.
I believe Austin community college has approved there's.
>> it's a broad issue on the part of local governments.
>> after that luncheon, Commissioner Gomez and I discussed it and it was at her request that we put this on her agenda.
but every legislative session we try to communicate to the legislature that those unfunded mandates put us in a tough budgetary situation.
and with their budget problems this session it's likely to be a lot more problematic for us than previous ones.
>> I understand just the latest, a $27 billion deficit, a shortfall, so it's going to be a lot of squeezing and massaging of a whole bunch of things and, of course, we can't predict if any of this will fall on the shoulders of the local taxpayers especially if they are unfunded mandates or those particular things that we have not been funding in the past or either what they have been funding in the past, they will withdraw that funding from those programs. So it's kind of scary right now.
we really don't know what's going to happen at this point.
>> I think you are exactly right, Commissioner.
we cannot predict what they will do, but we can predict they will be tempted to do some things that will result in unfunded mandates.
>> just for the benefit of anyone who might be watching and not fully understanding by unfunded mandates, could you elaborate?
>> yes, Commissioner.
an unfunded mandate would be a state law or some kind of state decision that requires local governments to house prisoners, it requires local governments to provide certain -- in the education context, certain programs to students at their schools and that.
but that does not tie that mandate to funding from the state in order to accomplish that man date.
and in that sense, what it does really is legally require the county to do something and require the county to pay for it out of its own taxpayer dollars as opposed to out of money appropriated by the state for the purposes of that mandate.
>> thank you.
>> I move we approve the resolution.
>> second.
>> and authorize mr. Eckstein to distribute to the appropriate legislators, especially members of the Travis County legislative delegation.
does that second cover the whole motion?
>> yes, judge, and will there be anything other than that that we may need from this particular motion?
>> Commissioner, that would be very helpful what is in the motion as is.
>> okie-doke.
>> discussion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> should I give you the original?
>> yes, sir.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, January, 2011 2:47 PM
