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OCT -.5 ui <br />Stop unfunded mandates <br />page 2 <br />BOOK 90 FAGF_ 711 <br />An information packet on mandates is enclosed. It offers suggestions <br />on activities to hold, how to work with the media, backgroundand <br />information on unfunded mandates, and a response card to let us know your <br />planned activities for National Unfunded Mandates Day. <br />I urge you to begin planning your activities today. This is a crucial <br />issue for counties. President Clinton has vowed to stop unfunded mandates. <br />Members of Congress have said they are opposed to them as well. We need to <br />turn this rhetoric into reality. <br />Sincerely, <br />&"&4k,o,tc�4 <br />Barbara Todd <br />NACo President <br />Commissioner Macht felt that we could do some very simple <br />things to support this movement, one of which would be to pass a <br />resolution in support of NACo's opposition to the unfunded federal <br />mandates. Another might be to have Commissioner Eggert meet with <br />business leaders in the community. He offered to convey a report <br />to the Council of 100 on the effect of these mandates on our <br />budget, stressing that it is estimated that 30% of our budget goes <br />to funding federal and state mandates. Commissioner Macht noted <br />that he planned on presenting the cost impact analysis at a later <br />time, but the NACo alert prompted him to place the matter on <br />today's agenda. <br />OMB Director Joe Baird emphasized the high costs of the recent <br />murder trials that were moved out of the county with respect to the <br />transfer of witnesses, prisoners, etc., and discussion ensued <br />regarding projected costs in complying with unfunded mandates and <br />the best way to explain these costs to the public. <br />Commissioner Eggert noted that it is very difficult to explain <br />to a public who isn't interested, but Commissioner Macht pointed <br />out that a great number of concerned taxpayers attended the two <br />budget hearings in September. <br />Chairman Bird was willing to go along with the workshops and <br />explaining the impact of the mandates to people who feel we need to <br />freeze government at its present level. <br />Commissioner Tippin didn't feel we could get too much <br />information out to the taxpayers. He appreciated the efforts that <br />Commissioner Macht has gone to in putting all this information on <br />his computer, and he would like to see workshops well in advance of <br />the budget workshops where he could ask more questions. <br />42 <br />