City tells Austin: No more unfunded mandates

February 23, 2011

The Big Spring City Council approved a resolution Tuesday supporting House Joint Resolution 56, a bill currently being considered by the Texas Legislature that would — by constitutional amendment — outlaw unfunded or under-funded mandates in the Lone Star State.

Specifically, the amendment would prohibit unfunded and under‐funded mandates passed down from the state level to city and county governments.

“No bill enacted by the legislature on or after Jan. 1, 2012, requiring a local government to establish, expand or modify a duty or activity that requires the expenditure of revenue by the local government shall be effective until and unless the legislature appropriates or otherwise provides for the payment or reimbursement, from a source other than the revenue of the local government, or the costs incurred for the biennium by the local government in complying with the requirement,” Mayor Tommy Duncan said, reading the details of the proposed bill to the council and audience.

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