City Council Agenda and Packet 2012 12 12 SP

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Louisville 2013Legislative Issues(not in any particular order) Tax Policy The City supports a fair and consistent State policy that respects the authority of local governments.Further, the City opposes State exemptions that erode municipal sales tax, use taxes, property taxes and other revenue sources. Position: The City opposes legislation that preempts local authority to impose and collect sales and use taxes. Supports voluntary, cooperative efforts among Colorado municipalities to standardize sales and use tax practices and utilize technology for the convenience of taxpayers, the business community and municipalities. The City opposes State-granted exemptions or other State actions that erode municipal sales taxes, use taxes, property taxes, andother revenue sources unless the State provides adequate replacement revenues. Supports equitable sharing with municipalities of existing and future State revenues derived from traditional State-collected, locally shared revenues, such as the cigarette tax, Highway Users Tax Fund and the Lottery. Home Rule: Maintaining Local Control The City supports local control and maintaining home rule authority.In general, the City believes that local problems are best addressed at the local level and the current authority and powers of municipal governments such as land use, zoning, personnel matters, sales tax, etc. should not be diminished. Position: The City urges Stateofficials to respect Colorado’s tradition of local control and allow municipal officials to address local problems without Stateinterference. Energy and Environment The City of Louisville supports legislation to address climate change by improving energy efficiency, increasing use of renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, while maintaining local control and authority for implementation. It is the intent of the City to meet or exceed compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. However, the City does not support State or Federal programs that place an unreasonable financial burden on municipalities. Position: The City supports the development of a balanced, long-term statewide energy plan with an overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing a combinationof approaches and consideration of the following (but not limited to): a mix of non-renewable fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, nuclear facilities and energy efficiency and conservation programs. The City supports the creation and expansion of statewide goals that provide targets and incentives for the implementation of renewable energy strategieswithout imposing any unfunded state mandate on local governments. Pursue policies that reduce overall energy consumption, cost to the consumer and respectlocalgovernments’authority to implement such policies. Supports legislation and regulations that provide incentives for green building and sustainable design without imposing unfunded mandates. The City supports improvements to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s oversight of oil and gas drilling and preservation of local control to adopt moratoriums and regulations as necessary.