1993-10-11 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • UNFIINDED MANDATES Recently, the Texas Municipal League (TML), in the September 24, 1993 issue of TML Leaislative Update, discussed the upcoming "Unfunded Mandate Day", sponsored by the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties and the International City;'County Management Association. The Program is designed the call attention to "Washington's practice of imposing, but not funding, costly programs or requirements that local governments are directed to carry out". TML requests that any city that has felt the effects of unfunded federal mandates adopt a resolution, supplied in the above referenced report (copy of Resolution attached). This report examines the City of La Porte's experience with current and future unfunded mandates. The issue must first be defined to identify true mandates. A recent issue of American City and County (September 1993) defines unfunded mandates as "the federal habit of tossing environmental mandates at the cities without giving the wherewithal to meet those mandates" . This definition differs from the TML definition in that it specifies "federal environmental" mandates, whereas TML more broadly defines federal "programs or practices". The problem with both definitions is that they limit consideration to federal dictates. In fact, states, counties, and other political subdivisions also pass down unfunded mandates to cities, although some of these can be traced back the Washington. In effect, these secondary mandates are directives passed on from the federal government, often embellished and made more restrictive than originally planned. States, counties, special districts and authorities frequently impose their own unfunded mandates unrelated to federal action. To some degree, even cities are guilty of unfunded mandate delegation, passing on the cost and administrative burden of compliance to its citizens. Nhat are these mandates, what to they cost the City of La Porte, and how do they effect the way the City operates? To answer these questions, one must identify the source, whether they are recurring or intermittent costs, and whether they are current or anticipated mandates. The most identifiable mandates are those involving environmental issues. A total of $71,225 is budgeted in the current fiscal year for compliance with environmental mandates, and includes fees, taxes, required testing and procedures (matrix attached). Conversion to surface water, mandated by the Harris - Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, cost the City of La Porte approximately $8.9 million dollars in capital costs, and $480,000 per year for the purchase of treated water. Other mandates include such items as compliance with SARA Title III and HAZWOPER, public safety training and certification requirements and maintenance of county and state traffic signals.