Agenda Package - 01-18-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(A9 • Other Goals Implement Combined Motor Vehicle Registration & Property Tax Collection System — Seek legislation to ensure that the combined motor vehicle registration and property tax collection system is implemented within the statutory deadline. Explanation: Implementation of the combined motor vehicle registration /property tax system has been delayed several times for various reasons, but the program is still important to county governments. It is estimated that once this system is up and running, counties will reap more than $50 million annually in currently uncollected property taxes on motor vehicles. Protect local control of ABC System — Seek legislation to protect local control of the local ABC system including all local revenue streams generated through local ABC store operations. Explanation: Given the state's dire budget situation, legislative leaders are considering privatizing all or parts of the state's system of alcoholic beverage control to generate significant amounts of cash in the short -term. Many counties realize ABC revenues in their budget. The loss of these revenues would create holes in county budgets. In addition, cities and counties are better suited to make decisions about alcoholic beverage distribution, including where to locate stores and whether to merge with other systems. Authorize counties to offer broadband through partnership or direct service — Seek legislation to authorize counties to provide high -speed internet through direct county service or public - private partnerships. Explanation: Municipalities are offering this service to citizens, and counties wish to have the same authority. Increasingly, high -speed internet service is becoming an integral infrastructure • component of education and economic development services. When commercial providers make a business decision to not enter into certain markets, these areas may be disadvantaged. Laws should allow for the public sector to address the needs of their citizens either through the offering of direct service or public private partnerships. Eliminate Second Primary and Run -Off Elections — Seek legislation to eliminate second primary and run- off elections. Explanation: The costs for second primaries and run -off elections can be very high, especially when compared to voter turnout. Authorize Electronic Notice of Public Hearings and Other Legal Notices — Seek legislation to provide counties with options for notice of public hearings, notice of delinquent taxpayers, and other legal notices, through electronic means. Explanation: Current statutes require counties to purchase expensive ads in local newspapers when announcing various public hearings, meetings or other items. With many more citizens now getting their news on -line instead of from traditional newspapers, allowing counties to post these notices on their county -owned Web sites will save taxpayers money and make it easier on taxpayers to find the information at their demand. Repeal Public Employee Personnel Record Changes — Repeal HB 961 and seek legislation that will better clarify issues regarding privacy of public employee personnel records and release of other public records. Explanation: The new personnel records law passed in 2010 makes many more records available for public inspection but has also created a high level of confusion about whether records •