Whereas, the Common Council of the City of _____________ values the successful economy that provides jobs for our residents and tax base to fund services to our citizens; and

Whereas, excellent local services and excellent schools are a key ingredient of the quality of life that draws new businesses to our community; and

Whereas, local governments and schools have been consciously neglected in the states of Colorado and California because of constitutional restrictions on state and local revenues and expenditures; and

Whereas, this neglect has manifested itself in:

• bad roads for citizens and commerce;
• reduced prescription drug programs for the elderly;
• reduced immunizations for children;
• higher tuition for college students and
• disappearing state support for public universities;
• schools that don’t have enough textbooks for their pupils;
• and students who don’t learn enough to graduate from high school; and

Whereas, adoption of a "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" along the lines of a constitutional amendment adopted 12 years ago in Colorado could cause the same social and economic stagnation in Wisconsin as it has caused in Colorado; and

Whereas, a bad law is easy to repeal, but a bad constitutional amendment takes many years to reverse;

Now therefore be it resolved that the City of ___________ wants no part of a constitutional amendment that undermines Wisconsin’s economy, transportation and educational systems and leaves working people, children, the sick and the elderly out in the cold; and

Further be it resolved that the common council of the City of _____________ urges the Legislature not to impose a Colorado or California-style fiscal straitjacket on the families of Wisconsin.

Adopted this ______ day of __________, 2004.

______________________________

City Clerk