1171RESOLUTION NO. ~_
A RESOLUTION URGING OUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE TO
RESTORE TO CITIES AND TOWNS FULL FUNDING OF THEIR WORKERS'
COMPENSATION COSTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, In 1985 the cities and towns of Arkansas, acting
through the Executive Committee of the Arkansas Municipal League
did agree to local city administration rather than state
administration of the state mandated Workers' Compensation
Program for municipal officials and employees which was funded
with state funds at that time; and
WHEREAS, The cities of Little Rock and Fort Smith have
individually self-funded their Workers' Compensation cost; and
WHEREAS, Over 460 cities and towns have formed the
Municipal League Workers' Compensation Trust for group self-
funding their Workers' Compensation costs and other cities have
self-funded with other groups; and
WHEREAS, This local administration of the state mandated
Workers' Compensation Program has been very successful and has
saved the state and local governments millions of dollars in the
last three and one/half years; and
WHEREAS, The cities understanding of the agreement with the
Joint Budget Committee was that the state would continue to fund
the costs of Workers' Compensation for the cities through a
Workers' Compensation turnback fund with the state thereby saving
taxpayer dollars because of local administration; and
WHEREAS, The 1985 General Assembly carried through on this
commitment by appropriating $4,500,000 the first year and
$5,000,000 the second year of the biennium payable in July of
1985 and July, 1986, respectively to finance the program; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly in Special Session in 1986,
increased Workers' Compensation benefits but did not provide
additional funding for cities and towns to pay these benefits;
and
WHEREAS, The Joint Budget Committee in 1987 did not follow
the 1985 agreement but combined the Workers' Compensation
Turnback and General Fund Turnback and reduced the total amount
by $1,500,000 a year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS.
SECTION 1. The City Council of the city of West Memphis,
Arkansas does urge our Senator and Representative in the 1989
General Assembly to vote to restore full funding of the cost of
Workers' Compensation for municipal employees and that the full-
funding be paid to cities and towns in July, 1989, and each year
thereafter. We specifically request a separate Municipal
Workers' Compensation turnback of $6 million in 1989 and $6.5
million in 1990.
SECTION 2. That the Clerk is directed that a copy of this
resolution be mailed to our Senator and Representative at their
local address.
1 988.
PASSED AND APPROVED this
NGV ~~ 19aa
~~~?~~~
~ D 6 O.MwJ