1672RESOLUTION NO. 1672
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PASSAGE OF
PASSAGE AMENDMENT 4
WHEREAS, the Secretary of State has certified to the November 7 ballot an initial
proposed constitutional amendment (Amendment 4) to remove the sales and use tax on used
goods, to require a vote on all increases in taxes at a regularly scheduled statewide election, to
relax the procedural requirements for filing class action suits, to remove the bar voluntary
payment makes against the subsequent recovery of taxes, to remove the defense of sovereign
immunity; and,
WHEREAS, Amendment 4 will reduce general revenues $164.3 million; and,
WHEREAS, public education would lose $96.4 million, an amount that could not be
absorbed without increasing class size, postponing building maintenance, eliminating special
programs such as band, music, art and not buying computers, or eliminating support services such
as bus transportation; and,
WHEREAS, higher education would lose $27.5 million resulting in lost scholarship
opportunities or increased tuition for students; and,
WHEREAS, cities and counties would lose $20 million which would force cuts or scale
backs in local services such as senior citizens centers, 911 systems, police and fire protection; and,
WHEREAS, the first opportunity to replace the lost revenue could not occur until a
regularly scheduled statewide election in November 2002; and,
WHEREAS, requiring that all new or increased taxes, fees, licenses be approved by the
voters will tie the hands of the Governor and legislature, and might make it impossible for the
state to raise the money it needs to keep government operating effectively for its citizens; and,
WHEREAS, requiring that voter approval of such taxes occur at a regularly scheduled
statewide election could limit the ability of the State to respond to emergencies and throw the
entire state into crisis; and,
WHEREAS, by creating a new three-year statute of limitations during which taxpayers
can recover disputed taxes, local and state governments could be involved in illegal exaction and
class action lawsuits continuously and be required to pay attorneys fees from taxpayer funds; and,
WHEREAS, the passage of Amendment 4 would do long term damage to the quality of
life for every Arkansas;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, THAT:
The City Council of West Memphis, Arkansas opposes Initiated Amendment 4,
and urges the citizens of West Memphis, Arkansas to vote against this amendment in the
November 7, 200 election.
ADOPTED this 19th day of October, 2000.
~ ----~-,
William H. Johnson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Phillip ity Clerk
SPONSOR:
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Resolution Opposing the Passage of Proposed Amendment 4
WHEREAS the Secretary of State has certified to the November 7 ballot an initiated proposed
constitutional amendment (Amendment 4) to remove the sales and use tax on used goods, to
require a vote on all increases in taxes at a regulazly scheduled statewide election, to relax the
procedural requirements for filing class action suits, to remove the bar voluntary payment makes
against the subsequent recovery of taxes, to remove the defense of sovereign immunity; and
WHEREAS Amendment 4 will reduce general revenues $164.3 million and
WHEREAS public education would lose $96.4 million, an amount that could not be absorbed
without increasing class size, postponing building maintenance, eliminating special programs
such as band, music, art and not buying computers, or eliminating support services such as bus
transportation; and
WHEREAS higher education would lose $27.5 million resulting in lost scholarship opportunities
or increased tuition for students; and
WHEREAS cities and counties would lose $20 million which could force cuts or scale backs in
local services such as senior citizens centers, 911 systems, police and fire protection; and
WHEREAS the first opportunity to replace the lost revenue could not occur until a regulazly
scheduled statewide election in November 2002; and
WHEREAS requiring that all new or increased taxes, fees, licenses be approved by the voters
will tie the hands of the Governor and legislature, and might make it impossible for the state to
raise the money it needs to keep government operating effectively for its citizens; and
WHEREAS requiring that voter approval of such taxes occur at a regulazly scheduled statewide
election could limit the ability of the State to respond to emergencies and throw the entire state
into crisis; and
WHEREAS by creating a new three-yeaz statute of limitations during which taxpayers can
recover disputed taxes, local and state governments could be involved in illegal exaction and
class action lawsuits continuously and be required to pay attorneys fees from taxpayer funds; and
WHEREAS the passage of Amendment 4 would do long term damage to the quality of life for
every Arkansan; ~ -
NOW, TI~REFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that thin Council of ~l7)SY I~1 EmPNtS
opposes Initiated Amendment 4 and urges the citizens of to vote
against this amendment in the November 7, 2000 election. ,~~c ~ / ~
~C~I~'~
CITY CLERKS OFFICE
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