SAMPLE RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING S-770 AND A-1645 MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF A QUALIFIED PURCHASING AGENT AND THE ATTENDANT REORGANIZATION OF (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) PURCHASING FUNCTIONS.

WHEREAS,    (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) strongly supports the employment of the best purchasing practices to not only ensure compliance with the numerous state statutes governing public procurement but also to obtain the most favorable pricing for required services and products; and

WHEREAS,    (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) encourages and allows its employees to receive continuing education courses and frequent training to remain relevant of new statutes, changes in  regulations and best practice procedures which encourage proper cost effective purchasing; and

WHEREAS,    the Legislature has before it bills, S-770 and A-1645, endorsed by the Purchasing Officials and no other statewide local government organization that would significantly impact on the operation of the purchasing function by requiring the reorganization of the purchasing function into a separate office not under the direct supervision of the local unit’s administrator, manager, CFO and other official; and

WHEREAS,    (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) has not experienced any challenges or crisis in purchasing procedures that warrants imposing this unfunded mandate upon local governments and questions what existing problem (s) it purports to fix; and

WHEREAS,    (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) takes exception to this unfunded state mandate which represents an intrusion into the management prerogatives of  local officials to organize purchasing functions that are in the best interests of resident taxpayers; and

WHEREAS,    S- 770 and A-1645 will not reduce the cost of the municipal operation nor lead to better purchasing activities; rather these unfunded mandates will, in all probability, lead to higher personnel costs in the future given the mandates contained therein; and

WHEREAS,    It is unconscionable for the Legislature to impose another unfunded mandate during a time when Mayors and governing body members are focused on proposed budget cuts that will result in increased property taxes and the curtailment of services to residents.

NOW,  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the governing body of (YOUR MUNICIPALITY) in the county of (COUNTY NAME)

1. Opposes S 770 and its companion bill A 1645 as an unfunded state mandate with no new or additional capabilities to assist towns in improving purchasing activities and in all probability will lead to future cost increases.

2. Opposes S-770 and its companion bill A-1645 which change an existing option afforded local units into an unfunded mandate to appoint a qualified purchasing agent.