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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY EICHELBERGER, WAUGH, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, GORDNER, ARGALL, COSTA, ROBBINS, FOLMER, BOSCOLA, MUSTO, ALLOWAY, FARNESE, FERLO, D. WHITE, WILLIAMS AND BRUBAKER, MAY 4, 2010 |
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| REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 4, 2010 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a |
2 | comprehensive study of the number and types of mandates |
3 | placed upon Pennsylvania's local governments by the |
4 | Commonwealth. |
5 | WHEREAS, The cost of local government operations in this |
6 | Commonwealth is steadily increasing due to directives or |
7 | mandates placed upon local government units by both the Federal |
8 | Government and State government; and |
9 | WHEREAS, An unfunded mandate is a statute or regulation that |
10 | requires a political subdivision to perform certain actions, yet |
11 | provides no money for fulfilling the requirements, while an |
12 | underfunded mandate provides less funding than the political |
13 | subdivision needs to carry out the task; and |
14 | WHEREAS, The increasing cost of these mandates is |
15 | concurrently increasing the local tax burden on this |
16 | Commonwealth's citizens and businesses, which results in a |
17 | significant impact on the economic health of this Commonwealth |
18 | and its communities; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures found |
2 | that from 2004 to 2008, the Congress of the United States |
3 | shifted a financial burden of at least $125 billion on to |
4 | states, a portion of which has been subsequently transferred to |
5 | local governments; and |
6 | WHEREAS, The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania |
7 | estimates that up to 80% of a county's budget is made up of |
8 | directives from outside entities, including human services, |
9 | which represent 60% of a county's responsibilities, plus courts |
10 | and corrections; and |
11 | WHEREAS, State government has an obligation of fiscal |
12 | responsibility and must be cognizant of the tax burden it |
13 | imposes upon local taxpayers whether directly or indirectly; and |
14 | WHEREAS, There currently exists no comprehensive information |
15 | on the number and cost of State mandates upon this |
16 | Commonwealth's local governments; therefore be it |
17 | RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government |
18 | Commission to establish a task force to study the unfunded and |
19 | underfunded mandates placed by the Commonwealth upon |
20 | Pennsylvania's boroughs, townships, counties and cities; and be |
21 | it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of experts |
23 | familiar with the funding and operation of programs implemented |
24 | by local government units, including elected officials, |
25 | representatives from local government associations, |
26 | academicians, program directors, finance officers or other |
27 | administrators from both State and local government; and be it |
28 | further |
29 | RESOLVED, That the task force compile a comprehensive list |
30 | describing each directive placed upon local governments whether |
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1 | voluntary or mandatory, and further indicate in its study |
2 | whether the directive is Federal or State in origin or a |
3 | combination thereof, whether the origin of the directive is |
4 | administrative or discretionary in nature, as opposed to express |
5 | language contained in a statute or regulation; the average |
6 | annual cost of each directive to a local government unit; the |
7 | amount of money provided by the Federal Government or the |
8 | Commonwealth to implement each directive; and whenever possible |
9 | identify reasons for discrepancies between funding levels and |
10 | actual costs; and be it further |
11 | RESOLVED, That the task force make findings with regard to |
12 | the potential for cost savings that could be achieved through |
13 | partial waivers or elimination of certain mandates, as well as |
14 | make findings and recommendations with regard to alternative |
15 | procedures which could provide local governments with a |
16 | mechanism for mandate waivers should the General Assembly |
17 | determine to provide for legislation to establish such a |
18 | procedure; and be it further |
19 | RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission provide |
20 | a report on the foregoing to the members of the Senate no later |
21 | than one year from the date that this resolution is adopted. |
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