0405 RESOLUTION NO. 405 ( -88)
A RESOLUTION URGING OUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES 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 admini-
stration 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 four hundred sixty (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 (3V2) 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, 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 addi-
tional 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 Turn-
back 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 JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS, THAT:
SECTION ONE: The City Council of the City of Jacksonville,
Arkansas, does urge our Senator and Representatives in the 1989
General Assembly to vote to restore full funding of the cost of
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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 $6,000,000 in 1989 and $6,500,000 in 1990.
SECTION TWO: That the Clerk is directed that a copy of
this Resolution be mailed to our Senator and Representatives at
their local address.
SECTION THREE: All Resolutions or parts of Resolutions
in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such
conflict.
SECTION FOUR: This Resolution shall be in effect from and
after its date of passage.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS t5 h DAY OF DECEMBER
1988.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
BY: p •mr. •
TsMMY SWAI', r - YOR
ATTEST:
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LU M. LEON•RD ITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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KEIT VAUGHAN, C Y ATTORNEY