HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-16-2010 - 3bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 16, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 "
_ SUBJECT: Resolution Regarding Afghanistan War and Warfare Funding
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) Draft "Resolution To End the Frank Clifton, 245-2300
Expenditure of the Public's Tax Dollars
by the U.S. Congress for Excessive and
Unaffordable Warfare Funding" as
Considered at the October 19, 2010
Regular Board Meeting
2) Draft " A Resolution To End The War in
Afghanistan and Stop The Expenditure
of the Public's Tax Dollars For Warfare
Funding" -Proposed By Commissioner
Alice Gordon
PURPOSE: To consider adopting a resolution regarding the Afghanistan War and 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.
At the Board's October 19, 2010 regular meeting, the Board discussed the resolution provided
at Attachment 1. Based on that discussion, the Board voted to delay consideration of the
resolution to allow for additional consideration, any possible public input, and for possible
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revisions to the resolution by Board members. The Board also directed staff to bring the item
back for Board review and consideration at the November 16, 2010 meeting.
In follow-up to the October 19th discussion, Commissioner Alice Gordon has provided a draft
resolution - "A Resolution To End The War in Afghanistan and Stop The Expenditure of the
Public's Tax Dollars For Warfare Funding" -included at Attachment 2.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Review the original "Resolution To End the Expenditure of the Public's
Tax Dollars by the U.S. Congress for Excessive and Unaffordable
Warfare Funding' ;
2) Review the draft "A Resolution To End the War in Afghanistan and Stop
the Expenditure of the Public's Tax Dollars For Warfare Funding"
provided by Commissioner Gordon;
3) Discuss, amend as necessary, and if appropriate, adopt a resolution;
4) If a resolution is adopted, 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.
RCS- a~ Imo- 0~-1
DRAFT Attachment 1
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 16th day of November 2010.
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Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attachment 2
DRAFT (May be revised later)
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION TO END THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND STOP THE
EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC'S TAX DOLLARS FOR WARFARE FUNDNG
Whereas, the men and women in the Armed Forces deserve our gratitude
for their service and bravery; and
Whereas, the war in Afghanistan has caused the deaths of United States
soldiers, the wounding of many service members, and incalculable
personal damage to our military personnel and their families, as well
as death, injury and devastation for the people of Afghanistan; and
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, in a time of economic difficulty at home, this war has cost
billions of dollars that would be better spent on education, health
care, social services, infrastructure, and other essential public
services, and has instead diverted it from the constructive economy to
warfare; and
Whereas, the people of Orange County, North Carolina are collectively
paying or becoming indebted for millions of dollars per year of their
limited financial resources for such warfare; and,
Whereas, the President's strategy for Afghanistan has called for a
short-term surge of 30,000 additional troops, followed by a gradual
redeployment of U.S. forces from the country beginning in July 2011,
and;
Whereas, there nevertheless does not appear to be a firm timetable for
withdrawal or a clear exit strategy;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners, in keeping with its support of the basic values of the
United States and a concern for the well-being of its citizen-soldiers, calls upon
the federal government to develop a clear, rapid, orderly, and well-articulated
plan for bringing the war in Afghanistan to a swift and responsible conclusion,
safely bringing our men and women home; and
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Attachment 2
Be it further resolved that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
hereby requests 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
legislation brought before the U.S. Congress that provides further
funding to extend the duration of the war and the U.S. military
occupation of Afghanistan, and instead requests that these members
take strong and forceful action to terminate funding of these military
operations and safely bring our troops home, beginning the withdrawal by July
2011; and
Be it further resolved that this resolution be forwarded to the
County's federal and state legislative delegations.
This the 16th day of November 2010.
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Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners