Res 151-98 10/6/1998RESOLUTION NO. ,.5) !- ` A'
A RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE REQUESTING THE
RESTORATION OF THE HIGHWAY FUND; DETERMINING THAT THE
MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED WAS OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, the Texas economy has experienced substantial growth, where the
estimated revenues available to state government for the next biennium may
significantly exceed projected expenditures thereby enhancing the general fund; and
WHEREAS, in 1986 the Legislature removed the $30 million per year cap on the
amount transferred from the Highway Fund, known as Fund 006, to the Department of
Public Safety; and
WHEREAS, during the intervening 12 years since 1986 the amount transferred
from Fund 006 to the Department of Public Safety has totaled approximately $2.5
billion; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety budget for 1998 is $311,620,470 of
which $264 million, or 85 percent, is supplied by Fund 006; and
WHEREAS, during the 74th Legislative Session, it was noted that the
Department of Public Safety's funding from Fund 006 should not continue to rise
indefinitely and it was agreed to set the transfer amount based on a fixed percentage;
and
WHEREAS, because the emergency reasons for needing additional general
revenues have been resolved, returning the Department of Public Safety to general
revenue funding will free Fund 006 dollars for their basic purpose of building and
maintaining our state's highways; and
WHEREAS, the State has expended considerable efforts to increase federal
allocations to provide funding necessary to help correct deficiencies in funding
allocations to the State; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature should recognize that the passage of TEA 21 has
the potential to more closely associate federal funding with State needs than has
previously existed, and that the State's inability to provide the required state match to
those funds casts considerable credibility upon State efforts on other programs before
the Federal Legislature, where the State's ability to provide this match is directly
associated with the funding level within Fund 006; and
WHEREAS, not returning the Department of Public Safety to general revenue
funding will require in the near future that the Legislature increase the State's Motor
Fuel Tax to provide funding to Fund 006 where such may not have been needed if the
Department of Public Safety had not been funded under Fund 006.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The Texas Legislature is urgently requested to consider returning
the Department of Public Safety to general revenue funding.
SECTION 2. The Texas Legislature is requested to maximize every opportunity
to participate in the providing of funds to Fund 006 to allow the State to continue to
maximize federal dollars for the building and maintaining of highways in the State.
SECTION 3. It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at
which this resolution was passed was open to the public as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 6th day of October 1998.
ATTEST: