HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.049-90 CITY OF ASPEN
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ASPEN, COLORADO, OPPOSING
AMENDMENT 1 CONCERNING TAX LIMITATIONS.
WHEREAS, again an initiated proposal to amend the state
constitution to impose limitations on state and local taxes,
governmental fees, and service charges will appear on the ballot
at the general election of Noven~ber 6, 1990 as Constitutional
Amendment One; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment One will require voter
approval for certain state and local government revenue
increases; restrict property, income, and other taxes; limit the
rate of increase in state spending; change property valuation and
assessment laws; and provide for additional initiative and
referendum elections and for the mailing of information to
registered voters; and
WHEREAS, the city Council is in support of changes to our
existing statewide tax structure, which would increase its equity
and effectiveness, the Council is opposed to the 'Taxpayers Bill
of Rights' based on its immediate and long term adverse impact on
the City's revenue base and current options; its usurpation of
local control under representative government so the elected
officials would not be able to act promptly to take advantage of
community opportunities and objectives as they are now; its
transference of decision ma~ing authority to the state government
thereby undermining local control and responsible and responsive
government closest to the people; its establishment of costly and
burdensome requirements for elections; and its introduction of
undefined terms and vague provisions and requirements which would
result in costly litigation to determine their meaning, equity
and application; and
WHEREAS, if some utility and city services fees cannot be
increased as required to meet increased costs of providing same
without the elaborate, cumbersome and expensive elections
procedures, the Aspen citizens may be deprived of certain
essential public services.
WHEREAS, the City will suffer potential hardships in that
proposed Amendment One does not clearly address such matters as
how emergencies requiring the immediate expenditure of public
funds will be handled; and
WHEREAS, the proposed methods for such elections are
ilI cumbersome, confusing, expensive and legally questionable; and
WHEREAS, the amendment establishes costly bureaucratic
procedures for advertising and publishing election arguments,
this provision of the amendment could result in discouraging
rather than encouraging public involvement and make it more
difficult for voters to become informed on each issue due to the
cost and complexities associated with such requirements; and
WHEREAS, Amendment One is violative of the principles of the
representative form of government in that decisions regarding
governmental programs and policies which relate to the
expenditure of public funds will often require voter approval
rather than be determined by members of city Council and the
Mayor who have been duly chosen to represent the citizens of
Aspen and to make such decisions
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO:
Section 1
The city Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, is opposed
to the passage of Amendment 1. Therefore the City Council urges
local electors who are opposed to Amendment One to campaign
against the proposal to help bring about its defeat on November
("0 6, 1990.
Dated: ~~~j / B
William L. Sti~ling, Mayc~r
I, Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do
certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that
resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen,
Colorado, at meeting held ~ ~ . , 1990.
Kathryn ~ Koch, City Cl~rk