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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
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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 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 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, THEREFOKRE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City (or Town) Council of the City (or Town) of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
SECTION 1: The city (or town) council of the city or (town) of Jonesboro, 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 (or Recorder) is directed that a copy of this resolution be mailed to our Senator and Representative at their local address.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 3rd day of January, 1989.