The City of Georgetown is planning on lobbying your state legislators, using your tax money, on issues that may be against your best interest. They have an item in the consent agenda for next council meeting for a resolution authorizing city officials to lobby.
First of all, lobbying state legislators is not a valid city function. The city and its elected officials exist to provide roads, public safety, sewers, water services, electrical services, parks and libraries - not lobbying state legislators against our interests. This is clearly an expansion of government authority and intrusion into the personal prerogatives of citizens. The citizens have the right to lobby their legislators in their own best interest.
They have couched their resolution in very benign and non-threatening verbiage. For example, who could be against protecting "local control"? Well cities have clearly over-reached here in Texas. Think sanctuary cities, plastic bag bans and fracking bans!
How about the State changing annexation rules so that people who live within a proposed annexation area have a right to vote on the annexation? Is the current annexation rules fair to those people? It doesn't seem so, but, Georgetown officials are AGAINST the legislature giving those people a voice in annexation.
The city wants no limits placed on their ability to provide money, services, tax breaks, etc. to specific companies to entice them to locate in Georgetown. Some, like this writer, call that picking winners and losers. Let the market decide, not government! Others call this corporate welfare and are eliminating or curtailing this function.
The city wants to oppose any restrictions on them to take money from you, the taxpaying resident. No appraisal caps, no caps on their ability to levy property taxes! How is that in the best interest of the citizen/taxpayer?
They do not want the legislature to pass laws that entitle citizens to know the details about utility contracts. Think SunEdison, the now bankrupt solar farm developer that the city refused citizens to see the details of the contract. How is that working out? Why should the city have secrets from the citizens, except in personnel matters. The citizens want and deserve transparency in their government, yet, Georgetown wants to oppose any legislation that will make local government more transparent.
Finally, the city wants to implement this lobbying effort with no public input or discussion. This was discussed November 8 at a workshop, where the public is prevented from speaking, and now it is on the council consent calendar for November 23 where again there is no opportunity for public comment!
Call your councilperson and demand this proposed resolution be delayed until the public is notified and given the opportunity to comment.
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