NUMBER
001694
VERSION
ORIGINAL
REFERENCE
SPONSOR
JUDICIARY AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Title
Resolution opposing passage of state legislation prohibiting local governments from requiring employees to comply with residency requirements.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the opposition of the Common Council to proposed state legislation, 2001 Assembly Bill 113, that prohibits local governments from requiring employees to comply with residency requirements. The resolution expresses the Common Council's grave concern about the devastating impact that such legislation could have on the City of Milwaukee and its homeowners and businesses, and directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-DOA to lobby in opposition to any state legislation that would eliminate the authority of the City of Milwaukee to establish residency requirements for City employees, and urges all state legislators to join in that opposition.
Body
Whereas, The Wisconsin Legislature is considering legislation to prohibit counties, cities, villages, towns and school districts from requiring their employees to meet residency requirements; and
Whereas, The proposed legislation, 2001Assembly Bill 113, repeals the authority of local governments to set their own residency requirements but retains the authority of state government to require state residency—an example of the discredited governmental practice of big government setting rules for others but not requiring its own compliance with those rules; and
Whereas, Local governments and school districts throughout the state are currently able to evaluate their own unique circumstances and concerns as they decide whether or not to require their employees to be local residents; and
Whereas, The issue of local residency requirements is not a matter of state-wide concern but is instead clearly a local question that should be determined by local governments that are directly answerable to local voters; and
Whereas, Municipal employee residency is an issue that is appropriately addressed at the bargaining table with public employee unions, and the state legislature should not inject itself into the issue, usurping the position of the municipality; and
Whereas, Employees who live within City boundaries make innumerable contributions to its economy , culture and community---contributions that would vanish if the employees lived elsewhere; and
Whereas, The financial impact of this legislation on the City of Milwaukee would be depressed residential and commercial property values that would erode the years of investment that City residents have made in their homes and businesses; and
Whereas, The reduction in property values would decrease Milwaukee property tax receipts, diminishing the ability of the City to provide public services and continue to pay family-supporting wages to the very City employees whose residency requirements are affected; and
Whereas, This legislation could result in a sudden residential expansion in the communities surrounding Milwaukee, exceeding the capacity of the tax base and infrastructure of some already overburdened suburban communities to support the influx of new residents and their requirements for expanded schools, roads, sewers, water and other public services; and
Whereas, The current system, under which local governments evaluate local considerations in order to determine whether to establish local residency requirements, is the most appropriate way for local governmental policy to be established; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council expresses its opposition to proposed state legislation that prohibits local governments from requiring employees to comply with residency requirements; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council expresses its grave concern about the devastating impact that such legislation could have on the City of Milwaukee and its homeowners and businesses; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration is directed to lobby in opposition to 2001 Assembly Bill 113 legislation that would eliminate the authority of the City of Milwaukee to establish residency requirements for City employees, and urges all state legislators to join in that opposition.
Drafter
01124
TWM/cac
3/19/2001