Here’s a couple of gems from our friends at the General Assembly:
HJR 539 (Cole) requires that any bill or ordinance passed by the General Assembly or any local governing body creating, imposing or increasing any tax, license or fee require a three-fifths vote of the elected members of the body. HJR 540 (Cole) places the same requirement on total appropriations, limiting the state’s or any locality’s total appropriation to the preceding year’s, as adjusted by population and inflation factors.
A House Privileges and Elections Subcommittee recommended reporting these amendments on Jan.24. Voting to report were Del. Janis, Robert Bell, Jackson Miller and Cole. Please thank the delegates who voted against reporting: Del. Putney, Phillips and Spruill.
539 isn’t too bad but it does limit options. It’s almost as though these guys don’t trust themselves (or localities) to control spending. As for 450, these guys don’t even attempt to see over the next hill…..sigh.
January 25, 2011 at 5:27 pm
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/01/existential-crisis-new-tax-bill
More of the same from the General Assembly.
January 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm
As described, 539 sounds like a call for minority control rather than majority control.
January 25, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Makes me think issues in Fredricksburg drives Del. Cole. Isn’t that the same local body that got slammed in the sling because of going around the Privacy Act a few years ago?
January 25, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Andy, you are correct. I dont trust us politicians too control spending very often.
As how it would apply to the City Council I really dont see how it would change much from how things work today.
If the Manassas City Council wanted to spend more than the population growth/inflation formula it would only take 4 out of 6 votes on the Council.
January 25, 2011 at 7:47 pm
two things:
1. PJ, your comment was spammed and deleted. I don’t know that Jackson and I see eye to eye on this stuff but I respect his willingness to participate. I don’t see many other electeds doing that and it’s cool that Jackson does it. He doesn’t have to.
2. Jackson: I simply view it as an unnecessary intrusion. It’s a philosophical difference of opinion although 540 seems to be somewhat more militant. Overall, it does seem a setup for tyranny of the minority deal….
Thanks for your participation Del. Miller. There’s a guest post with your name on it if you want it.
January 25, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Having digested both JRs now, 540 is one that keeps the Econ boys and girls working. I do ponder the phrase “rate of inflation” as that is a red flag to me in reading without digging for a definition.
Which rate? It is tied to the CPI which is known to be a broken indicator? It is based on a per capita? Is it tied to increase/decrease in purchasing power in real-time, actual dollar vs. a prior year (most often two years) dollar value?
I do find 539 more palatable. Having taught Internal Control/Management Control at an Army Service School for five years, I see it as just a step in that direction of adding an IC/MC Rule.
January 28, 2011 at 3:42 pm
http://www.vml.org/
To learn more about the attacks on local
government by our current Virginia GA.