Item 2C: Ratification of IGR Committee Minutes

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the priorities on the list. Ms. Wilson stated that this was not the case, but that she was just pointing out that priorities A and F would require multiple legislative sessions to be completed. Ms. Taylor said that the 9-1-1 tax sounded important, but she wondered if it was too small an issue to make a priority. Ms. Wilson reiterated that the 9-1-1 taxes currently being collected were not sufficient to support the sys- tem. Ms. Taylor stated that she understood that, and wondered if it should be selected as a priority for the LOC. Ms. Wilson explained that the CCIGR would submit their four priorities, as would other LOC members. Whichever four from these collections rose to the top, the LOC would choose as their four legislative priori- ties for the upcoming session. Ms. Taylor asked if the CCIGR would select the priorities, or if they needed to get their selections approved by City Council. Ms. Wilson explained that the CCIGR would select the priorities under their usual process. Mayor Piercy asked if Ms. Wilson had any sense of the legislature's perspective on the proposed priorities. Ms. Wilson explained that, in priority F, “Overhauling of the state property tax system,” a task force was put together in 2008 to study the tax system and come up with some alternate proposals. In that case, the legislature had directed a study of the system. d. Priority O - work to achieve healthcare cost containment Ms. Wilson stated that in the case of priority O, “Work to achieve healthcare cost containment,” the state legislature would have to address the federal mandates on health care during the upcoming legislative ses- sion. If LOC members selected this as a priority, the LOC would work to make sure that however the legis- lature addressed those federal mandates, costs to local government would be considered, and local authority on decision making for health care costs would be protected. e. Priority P – Allow employees to choose alternative retirement options Ms. Wilson explained that there was some movement to reform the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) (priority P) again. PERS rates would go up beginning July 1, 2012. The average across-the-board rate increase would be about five percent, and could not be more than six percent (on top of the employer rate already being paid, not including the six percent member payment). She explained that there had been some talk, especially by Representative Richardson, who was the author of the PERS reform, to go through another reform. Whether or not the political will to do that existed, Ms. Wilson was not sure. She said that there were several lawsuits that were still pending. f. Priority U – Advocate for sustainable alternatives to fuel taxes MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations June 30, 2010 Page 3