HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-174RESOLUTIONNO. 93-174
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A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
-COMM OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, URGING CONGRESS AND THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION TO ENACT
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RELIEVE
COUNTIES AND CITIES OF ALL OBLIGATIONS
TO CARRY OUT ANY
NEW MANDATE ARISING
FROM FEDERAL LAW, REGULATION OR POLICY
UNLESS FEDERAL FUNDS ARE PROVIDED.
WHEREAS, the number of unfunded federal mandates on counties
and cities have significantly increased during the last decade,
while"many federal programs, which were made available to local
governments to ease the burden of carrying out federal mandates,
have been terminated or drastically reduced; and
_ Mumur,AS, such mandates stem from federal laws and
regulations that require counties and cities to provide services
and programs, and perform certain responsibilities without
providing federal funding for such services; and
WHEREAS, by shifting costs to counties and cities, unfunded
federal mandates breach the underlying principles of federalism
which assumes a working partnership and shared responsibilities
between the federal, state and local governments; and
WHEREAS, American citizens are unaware of the impact of
unfunded mandates on local services and their own local taxes;
and
WHEREAS, risk assessment is an essential component to any
cost benefit analysis of mandates and should be included in all
bills that impose mandates on counties and cities:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that Congress and
the Administration is urged to enact legislation that would
relieve counties and cities of all obligations to carry out any
new mandate arising from federal law, regulation or policy unless
federal funds are provided; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress and the Administration
are urged to enact legislation to reimburse local governments for
the costs of complying with existing federal mandates; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress and the Administration
are urged to include in any future mandate, a provision that
requires federal departments and agencies to provide
scientifically sound assessments of purported health, safety or
environmental risk prior to the imposition of any new mandate on
local governments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Indian River County supports a
"National Unfunded Mandates Day" to be held October 27, 1993,
during which county officials in all counties will be urged to
hold press conferences in coordination with local and state
officials to draw public attention to the problems imposed on
counties by unfunded federal mandates.
The resolution was moved for adoption by Commissioner Adams,
and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Eggert, and, upon
being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: