HomeMy Public PortalAbout1997_12_09_R276The Town of
Leesburg,
Virginia
RESOLUTION NO. 97-276
A RESOLUTION:
PRESENTED December 9, 1997
ADOPTED December 9, 1997
ADOPTING THE 1998 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Council members have identified legislative items they request to be
addressed by the 1998 General Assembly.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as
follows:
SECTION I. The Town Council supports the following legislative priorities identified by
the Virginia Municipal League:
State Funding for School Buildings and Technology
State funding for school construction is VML's highest priority. Local tax funds
cannot meet the projected costs required to maintain, renovate or replace aging
infrastructure, build new facilities, and provide proper technology. Without
adequate facilities, schools cannot accommodate new students or benefit from
educational technology or reduced class size initiatives.
State Budget Issues
Economic growth imposes increased demands upon government to educate its
citizens, build a sound infrastructure and provide for basic needs for the less
fortunate. It is important that the state reinvest revenue growth realized as a result
of economic growth to ensure that the state remains an attractive location for
business. Areas where the state should invest its resources are:
Preservation of current levels of elementary and secondary education
programs, increased funding on an incentive basis to reflect prevailing
practices, increased funding for construction, renovation and maintenance
of infrastructure, alternative education and technology for elementary and
secondary education, and increased funding for the state share of the costs
of special education, gifted education and alternative education;
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A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING THE 1998 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
2. Comprehensive Services Act;
3. Law enforcement funding (HB 599); and
4. Transportation.
C. Telecommunications
The telecommunications industry is changing rapidly. To promote the general
health, safety, welfare and quality of life of our citizens, VML sets forth the
following principles to guide any state legislative action.
Zoning and Land Use. Decisions about the siting or placement of certain
telecommunications equipment (towers, monopoles, satellite dishes, etc.)
have significant impact on the physical appearance of a locality and the
health, safety and general welfare of its citizens. Zoning and other
placement decisions must be made at the local level, by the local
government. Neither the state nor federal government, nor any regulatory
agency, should preempt or circumvent local government historical control
over land use decisions.
Public Rights-of-Way. Local rights-of-way are public property. The
rights-of-way contain numerous utility and other facilities. Proper
management and maintenance of rights-of-way are essential to ensure
public safety, to protect the integrity of the property, to guarantee the
safety of workers and to maintain the efficiency of local streets, utility
systems and transportation facilities and networks. Private use of public
rights-of-way significantly increase management and maintenance costs.
Equitable Taxation. Telecommunications providers are valued members of
our corporate community. All members of the corporate community must
pay taxes on an equitable basis, as appropriately determined by the local
government. No legislation should restrict the ability of local governments
to impose equitable taxes on telecommunications providers.
Universal Service and Consumer Access. Important educational and
community services are provided via telecommunications.
Telecommunications providers must be responsive to citizen needs and
concerns and provide appropriate customer services to all segments of our
community, so that no citizen or locality is disadvantaged, due to income
or geographic location, in gaining access to new technology.
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A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING THE 1998 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
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Competition. Local governments are interested in healthy competition in
the field of telecommunications. To ensure a competitively neutral and
non-discriminatory market, all service providers must pay fair
compensation for the use of public property. Governments should not be
forced to subsidize some participants in this free-market competition
through lower-than-fair-market charges or any other means.
Local Governments as Customers. Local governments are important
consumers of telecommunications services. In many communities, the local
government is the single largest customer of telecommunications services
(through its government offices, education facilities and emergency
communications). As valuable customers, local governments should be
treated equitably.
SECTION II. The Town Council supports the following legislative priorities identified by
individual council members:
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Residential Growth Management
Seek legislation to limit residential growth within communities. This action would
prevent commercially zoned property from being rezoned for residential use. In
addition, an adequate public facilities ordinance or more extensive impact fees
need to be considered to limit the burden of new school construction on local
governments as a result of residential development.
Enhanced Town Status
Continue to seek state support for a new level of towns that would grant towns
that provide certain services, additional legislative authority and status.
Double Taxation
Loudoun County's Ad-Hoc Committee on Equitable Taxation relief for town
residents concerning taxes paid to both the county and town in which services are
only provided by the town. The Committee has just released its report
substantiating that double taxation does exist.
A RESOLUTION:
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ADOPTING THE 1998 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
PASSED this 9th day of December, 1997.
ATTEST:
Clerk of Council