State intervention in local affairs is only warranted in matters of greater than local significance. In addition, no changes should be made in the laws affecting local government without substantial local input from affected jurisdictions and participation in developing those changes. The City supports legislation that enables local governments to operate in the best interest of our citizens. Membership on state and regional commissions or committees dealing with matters affecting local governments should include local officials who represent a demographic and geographic cross-section of counties, cities and towns. The State should increase state funding for the Regional Competitiveness Act to the amount originally envisioned so it is a viable program.
Adequate funding is needed for local governments to pursue substantive regional initiatives.
Fair and proportional funding should be provided to all regions of the state. The City strongly opposes amending the act to require creation of customized computer records for commercial and other uses. In addition, localities should be able to continue to charge reasonable fees for research time and for all records, including those for computer records that must be provided under the act. State agencies should be required to comply with local comprehensive plans and land use regulations and policies, subject to override by the governor. Further, the City supports strengthening the minimum housing maintenance and housing code and requests the General Assembly to adopt a resolution requesting the State Board of Housing and Community Development to study the issue of strengthening the minimum housing code.