METRO WEST 2010 LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS

The Legislative Committee annually reviews and recommends legislative positions and priorities, which are then approved by the full Board of Directors. If you have questions or suggestions about the positions, please contact Mary Randle. The positions for 2010 include:


State Issues:
1. Establish regional entity to guide water supply planning and policy, to be led by municipal water suppliers. More


2. Maintain local control of zoning/land use issues while supporting non-binding regional communication on planning issues.  More
 

3. Protect local government revenues against further efforts to erode them especially the local share of the state income tax and the one percent local portion of the sales tax.  More


4. Oppose legislation that attempts to eliminate local decision-making authority regarding personnel issues. More


5. Maintain the efficacy of local government economic development tools including Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIF), Enterprise Zones (EZ), and Business Development Districts (BDD). More


6. Protect local governments’ right to provide telecommunication and information services. More


7. Safeguard local governments’ use of impact fees, which are especially important in the rapidly growing west suburban area. More


8. Amend legislation that causes (rather than corrects) municipal boundary line conflicts. More


9. Control the cost of local government pensions. More


10. Oppose unfunded and under-funded mandates. Metro West opposes legislation that creates unfunded or under-funded mandates for local governments. More


11. Oppose federal or state legislation that would remove local control of public rights of way to the state and/or federal governments. More


12. Enact corrective legislation to clarify the rights of firefighters to run for elected office while preserving existing conflict of interest law. More

 

13. Support meaningful education funding reform that will lessen reliance on property taxes. More


14. Promote legislation that recognizes the roll of local government authority in the effectiveness and efficiency of municipal services provided to the public.   More

FEDERAL ISSUES

1. Increase Transportation Funding for Region. More

2. Enforce sales taxes compliance to all Internet retailers. More


JOINT FEDERAL/STATE ISSUES

1. State must contribute its share of Federally Funded Projects. More