HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-19-2010 - 3b 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 19, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. _
SUBJECT: Resolution To End the Expenditure of the Public's Tax Dollars by the U.S.
Congress for Excessive and Unaffordable Warfare Funding
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Resolution Frank Clifton, 245-2300
PURPOSE: To consider adopting a Resolution to End the Expenditure of the Public's Tax
Dollars by the U.S. Congress for Excessive and Unaffordable Warfare Funding.
BACKGROUND: Orange County resident Mark Marcoplos asked the Orange County Board of
Commissioners at its September 21, 2010 regular meeting to consider the adoption of the
resolution to end the expenditure of tax dollars for excessive and unaffordable warfare funding
because the financial resources available for use by governments at the local, county, state and
federal levels in the United States are limited; and while these funds are limited, an inordinate
level of military expenditure is being made by the U.S. federal government for warfare in
Afghanistan.
Mr. Marcoplos stated that the people of Orange County are collectively paying or becoming
indebted for approximately 351 million dollars per year (with the national average of
approximately $2,600/per person) of their limited financial resources for such warfare which
supplied no identified public benefits. Mr. Marcoplos continued that this warfare created great
and unnecessary harm to the people of the nation of Afghanistan and to U.S. military personnel
and their families. The warfare had also significantly reduced educational services,
infrastructure repairs, other essential public services, and family and private-sector financing in
Orange County and throughout the State of North Carolina.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider the Resolution
To End the Expenditure of the Public's Tax Dollars by the U.S. Congress for Excessive and
Unaffordable Warfare Funding. If appropriate, the Board can adopt the resolution, authorize
the Chair to sign the Resolution and direct the Clerk to the Board to forward a signed copy of
the adopted resolution to U.S. Congressman David Price and U.S. Senators Richard Burr and
Kay Hagan.
DRAFT (DES-000-077 2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION TO END THE EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC'S
TAX DOLLARS BY THE U.S. CONGRESS FOR EXCESSIVE AND
UNAFFORDABLE WARFARE FUNDING
WHEREAS, the financial resources available for use by governments at the
local, county, state and federal levels in the United States are and must be
limited; and
WHEREAS, an inordinate level of military expenditure is being made by the U.S.
federal government for warfare in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, the people of Orange County, North Carolina are collectively paying
or becoming indebted for approximately 351 million dollars per year (with the
national average of approximately $2,600/per person) of their limited financial
resources for such warfare which supplies no identified public benefits; and
WHEREAS, this warfare creates great and unnecessary harm to the people of
the nation of Afghanistan and to U.S. military personnel and their families; and
WHEREAS, educational services, infrastructure repairs, other essential public
services, and family and private-sector financing in Orange County and
throughout the State of North Carolina have been substantially reduced in order
for an excessive portion of available financial resources to be diverted from the
constructive economy to unnecessary warfare;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT we, the Orange County, North
Carolina Board of Commissioners, hereby request North Carolina's member of
the U.S. House of Representatives from the Fourth Congressional District and
the U.S. Senate representatives from the State of North Carolina oppose all
legislation brought before the U.S. Congress that provides further funding of the
U.S. warfare and U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of
Commissioners also requests that these members of Congress take strong and
forceful action to influence the full Congress to terminate funding of these military
operations.
This the 19th day of October 2010.
Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners