HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 185-12 Oppose Fed Sequestration RESOLUTION NO. 185- 12
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
OPPOSING FURTHER CUTS TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT FURTHER IMPACT
CORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ("SEQUESTRATION")
WHEREAS, last year President Obama and congressional leaders reached an
agreement to raise the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion and reduce spending by the same amount;
and
WHEREAS, this agreement was enacted by Congress and signed into law (PL 112-25)
by President Obama in August, 2011; and
WHEREAS, PL 112-25 instituted annual caps on non-defense discretionary spending
that are designed to reduce the deficit by $935 billion over the next ten years; and
WHEREAS, the $935 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary spending have already
significantly impacted core local government programs such as CDBG, HOME, infrastructure
grants and local law enforcement assistance; and
WHEREAS, PL 112-25 also created a 12-member congressional Joint Select Committee
on Deficit Reduction (the "Super Committee") that was tasked with reviewing the entire federal
budget and finding an additional $1.5 trillion in spending reductions over the next ten years by
November 23, 2011; and
WHEREAS, the Super Committee deadlocked; and
WHEREAS, in the event of a Super Committee deadlock, PL 112-95 called for an
additional $1.2 trillion in cuts to discretionary spending to be spread over the next nine years
beginning in FY 2013, and split evenly between defense ($600 billion) and non-defense ($600
billion) discretionary spending; and
WHEREAS, the additional $1.2 trillion cut is called "sequestration" and is scheduled to be
implemented in January, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the spending levels imposed by sequestration would lead to non-defense
discretionary spending levels that would cripple or eliminate core local government programs;
and
WHEREAS, the spending levels imposed by sequestration would severely impact the
Defense Department budget, would lead to declined investment in the local military bases of
Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area and could lead to another round of base closures
and realignments; and
WHEREAS, discretionary spending (defense and non-defense) makes up less than one-
third of the federal budget; and
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WHEREAS, total discretionary spending (defense and non-defense) was less than the
budget deficit in FY 2011 and will probably be less than the budget deficit in FY 2012, meaning
that the deficit cannot be eliminated solely through discretionary spending cuts; and
WHEREAS, budget experts and economists are calling the combination of expiring tax
provisions and sequestration a "fiscal cliff' that needs to be urgently addressed; and
WHEREAS, most non-partisan budget experts and economists agree that eliminating the
budget deficit will require a balanced approach that includes reforms to the mandatory spending
programs that make up the bulk of the budget, increased revenue and reasonable discretionary
spending caps; and
WHEREAS, metro areas have been responsible for nearly 88 percent of the recovery in
the nation's real GNP and over 83 percent of employment growth to date; and
WHEREAS, non-defense discretionary programs are successful and productive,
leveraging significant funding from non-federal sources to help spur economic recovery.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of
oppose the sequestration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Dublin opposes further cuts to
discretionary spending that hurt the mission of or the troops at Camp Parks Reserve Forces
Training Area or that further impact core local government programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of City of Dublin calls upon President
Obama and Congress to avert sequestration and craft a balanced approach to deficit elimination
that shares the burden evenly, does not disproportionately harm national economic growth by
shifting costs to local governments or harm national defense.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of October, 2012, by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Biddle, Hart, Hildenbrand, Swalwell, and Mayor Sbranti
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor
ATTEST: i:(1,;(c
City Clerk
Reso No. 185-12,Adopted 10-16-12, Item 8.1 Page 2 of 2