HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2011-01 Supporting House Joint Resolution 56City of West University Place
Harris County, Texas
RESOLUTION NUMBER 2011-01
RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS SUPPORTING
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RESTRICT THE POWER OF THE
LEGISLATURE TO MANDATE REQUIREMENTS UPON CERTAIN LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND EXPRESSING SUPPORTFOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 56
WHEREAS, Texas local governments have been created and empowered by the people to carry out the
protection of the mutual health, safety, and welfare of their citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Constitution grants the power to carry out these sacred duties by elected officials for the
local governments having been elected by the citizens whom they are directly accountable to; and
WHEREAS, the prudent and responsible management of the affairs of the local governments requires that
public officials have the maximum ability and powers to meet their sworn duties without the imposition of
mandates that require the expenditure of local tax revenues and the erosion of local controls; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature has enacted legislation in the past that erodes the power of local
government to control activities and functions of their local governments; and
WHEREAS, the introduction and passage of legislation that erodes local governmental authority or places
unfunded mandates upon our cities threaten the sovereign powers delegated to Texas cities by the
Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Representative Burt Solomons has filed H.J.R. 56 during the 2011 legislative session; and
WHEREAS, H.J.R. 56 would amend the Texas Constitution to provide that no bill enacted after January 1,
2012, that imposes on a local government a duty that requires the expenditure of revenue is effective unless
an appropriation or other form of payment or reimbursement is provided from a resource other than the
revenue of the local government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of West University Place, Texas that the city hereby urges
the Texas Legislature to refrain from introducing, considering, or passing legislation that would create new
obligations on the part of Texas local governments to provide services to their citizens without the necessary
funding to carry out the spirit and provisions of such legislation; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City of West University Place that the city hereby
urges the Texas Legislature to pass H.J.R. 56 and send it to the voters of the State of Texas.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City of West University Place, Texas, this 14th day of February, 2011.
APPROVED:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Alan Petrov, City Attorney
RECOMMENDED-
Michael Ross, City Manager