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<br />RESOLUTION NO. 2004-049 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, <br />PARIS, TEXAS, OPPOSING ANY SCHOOL FINANCE OR TAX SYSTEM <br />REFORMS THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT CITY REVENUES AND <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS <br />AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN <br />EFFECTIVE DATE. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, it is likely that the Texas Legislature will address school finance and tax system <br />reforms in the near future; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, during theses deliberations by the Texas Legislature, proposals to limit the <br />ability of cities to collect property taxes and sales taxes are likely to be offered by some members <br />of the Legislature; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, additional restrictions on city taxes fly in the face of a history of frugal tax <br />administration by Texas cities; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, all Texas cities combined collect only 15.3 percent of all property taxes <br />collected in the State of Texas, while schools collect more than 60 percent; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, between 1985 and 2002, the municipal share of all property tax revenue fell <br />from 20.3 percent to 15.3 percent; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, adjusted for inflation, municipal property taxes went up by only 37 percent <br />between 1985 and 2002, while population grew by 33 percent, demonstrating that growth in <br />municipal property tax levies roughly matched population growth; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Texas cities rely on tax revenue to build basic infrastructure, to ensure public <br />safety through police and fire departments, and to provide numerous essential services for city <br />residents, who are 80 percent of the state's population; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Texas cities engage in numerous economic development activities that produce <br />jobs and revenue for the entire State of Texas; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, cities must meet the challenges of homeland security and compliance with state <br />and federal mandates, many of which are unfunded mandates; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Texas cities have shown over the years that they are fiscally responsible and <br />good stewards of taxpayers' money; and, <br />