HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2015.10.07 - 22027REPORT (MISC.#15209) October 7, 2015
BY: General Government Committee, Christine Long, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #15209 — BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — REFORM "STRINGS ATTACHED"
FEDERAL GRANTS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee, having reviewed the above referenced resolution on
September 28, 2015, reports with the recommendation the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the acceptance of the
foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Woodward voting no and Quarles absent.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 15209
BY: Commissioners Eileen KowaII, District #6; Shelley Taub, District #12; Jeff Matis, District #15; Robert
Gosselin, District #11; Bob Hoffman, District #2; Wade Fleming, District #16; John Scott, District #5; Hugh
Crawford, District #9
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — REFORM "STRINGS ATTACHED" FEDERAL GRANTS TO
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Congressional Budget Office stated in a recent report, "Federal grant programs provide a
mechanism for federal policymakers to promote their priorities at the state and local levels by influencing
the amount of money spent by state and local governments and the types of activities on which those
governments spend their money"; and
WHEREAS the purpose of "strings attached" federal grant programs is to subvert the Constitutional
division of federal and state responsibilities, which is intended to prevent a concentration of power in a
central government that could threaten individual liberties; and
WHEREAS the process of sending revenues to Washington for the federal government to take a portion
and then redistribute the funds is inefficient, creates a culture of dependence among the states, unfairly
redistributes funds for political purposes and fosters a lack of accountability; and
WHEREAS the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations has identified many of the tactics
used by the federal government to influence decision making at the state and local level such as:
conditions on federal grants; mandates included in federal legislation; federal preemption of state laws;
federal tax policies which affect state and local tax bases; regulatory actions taken by federal agencies;
and federal exposure of state and local governments to liability lawsuits; and
WHEREAS current federal grant policies place significant administrative and indirect costs on state and
local governments, while fostering the inefficient use of tax dollars; and
WHEREAS federal grants-in-aid have increased to over 1,100 separate programs, each with its own set
of compliance costs and meant to influence decisions at the state and local level; and
WHEREAS the direct cost of federal grants in-aid have skyrocketed, according to the federal budget, to
an estimated $640.8 billion in 2015 from $24.1 billion in 1970; and
WHEREAS federal grants now constitute over 30% of states' revenues and are often sought to "not leave
any money on the table" or "to remain competitive" with neighboring states; and
WHEREAS inefficiency and waste is fostered by a system of grant funding that requires numerous layers
of government to administer, request and ensure compliance; and
WHEREAS this cycle of dependence is growing the power and reach of the federal government and
perverting the priorities of state and local governments; and
WHEREAS state governments often pass through federal funds to local governments, extending the
reach of federal policies and creating an incentive for local governments to fund non-priority
programs/projects; and
WHEREAS states and local governments are able to design and develop innovative, efficient and
productive programs that meet the needs of the residents within their community and within the restraints
of fiscal responsibility, and
WHEREAS a recent study by the Pew Research Center demonstrates the increased confidence
Americans have in state and local governments - the study found that favorable views of the federal
government have fallen to a record low of 28%, while 57% percent of Americans have a favorable view of
their state government and 63 % have a favorable view of their local government; and
WHEREAS grants and financial assistance from the federal government must be transformed into block
grants that allow autonomous management of programs, free from "strings attached" rules and
inducements to increase local spending; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan and the County of Oakland should pursue a policy to resist the
temptation to cede their authority to the federal government in exchange for grant funding; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan and the County of Oakland should make budget choices based local
determined priorities and never fund programs/projects solely based upon the availability of federal grant
funds; and
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon the
President and Members of Congress to transform federal grants to state and local government into block
grants that provide broad authority for innovation and without financial incentives to alter local fiscal
decisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon the Governor
and Members of the State Legislature to budget based upon state priorities, not the availability of federal
C mrnsioner Eileen ‘Kowall
District #6
Commissioner Jeff Matis
District #15
ommissioner
District #2
CommiOioner John Scott
Distrio05
Commissioner Shelley Taub
District/02
CommiSsioner Robert Gosselin
District *11
Commissioner Wade Flatting
District *16
6-6-jrnipiissioner Hugh Crawford
st ict #9
funds, and to turn away federal grants that cede powers granted to the states under the Constitution while
advocating for the adoption of block grant reforms at the federal level.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the sense of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners that the
pursuit of federal and state grant dollars should be limited to priorities determined in the budgeting
process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the sense of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners that
grant programs should be avoided that require excessive administrative costs which significantly reduce
the value of the funding to reach program objectives.
Chairperson, I move the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #15209 July 29, 2015
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.
Resolution #15209 October 7, 2015
Moved by Long supported by Zack the General Government Committee Report be accepted.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the report was accepted.
Moved by Woodward supported by McGillivray the resolution be amended as follows:
WHEREAS Medicaid provides coverage and long term care services to more than 50
million people, affecting virtually every aspect of the nation's health care system and is an
economic engine in communities throughout the country; and>
WHEREAS the State of Michigan and the County of Oakland should pursue a policy to resist the
temptation to cede their authority to the federal government in exchange for grant funding; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan and the County of Oakland should make budget choices based
local determined priorities and never fund programs/projects solely based upon the availability of
federal grant funds; and
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls
upon the President and Members of Congress to transform federal grants to state and local
government into block grants that provide broad authority for innovation and without financial
incentives to alter local fiscal decisions.
<BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners support
for these reforms does not extend to changes in the Medicaid program that would reduce
or eliminate the guarantee of basic health services for millions of Americans; and>
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon the
Governor and Members of the State Legislature to budget based upon state priorities, not the
availability of federal funds, and to turn away federal grants that cede powers granted to the
states under the Constitution while advocating for the adoption of block grant reforms at the
federal level.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the sense of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
that the pursuit of federal and state grant dollars should be limited to priorities determined in the
budgeting process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is the sense of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
that grant programs should be avoided that require excessive administrative costs which
significantly reduce the value of the funding to reach program objectives.
Discussion followed.
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Gershenson, Jackson, McGillivray, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Bowman, Dwyer. (8)
NAYS: Fleming, Gingell, Gosselin, Hoffman, KowaII, Long, Matis, Middleton, Scott, Spisz, Taub,
Weipert, Crawford. (13)
A sufficient majority having not voted in favor, the amendment failed.
Moved by Long supported by Dwyer the resolution be adopted.
Vote on resolution:
AYES: Gingell, Gosselin, Hoffman, KowaII, Long, Matis, Middleton, Scott, Spisz, Taub, Weipert,
Crawford, Dwyer, Fleming. (14)
NAYS: Gershenson, Jackson, McGillivray, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Bowman. (7)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution was adopted.
Resolution #15209 October 7, 2015
DOES NOT REQUIRE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACTION
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on October 7,
2015, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 7th day of October 2015.
&2- Lis brown, Oakland CoUnty