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HomeMy WebLinkAbout135851 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 RESOLUTION 13,585 A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR STATUTORY AMENDMENTS TO AUTHORIZE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY THE STATE OF ARKANSAS RELATED TO COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DF &A) collects sales taxes levied by Cities and Counties in Arkansas under the same tax administration system that is used to collect State sales taxes, and as such, local taxes are "piggy backed" along with the collection of State sales taxes; and, WHEREAS, the State withholds an administrative fee of 3% from local tax collections to fund the cost of such service which totaled approximately $30 million in 2011; and, WHEREAS, all taxing entities are entitled to have information about the collections produced by the taxes levied in order to monitor, evaluate, budget and project the tax collections to which they are entitled to receive; and, WHEREAS, existing Arkansas law does not authorize or require DF &A to provide information to local governments that is useful and satisfactory to monitor, evaluate, budget and project local tax collections; and, WHEREAS, laws in neighboring states authorize and require the release of information that is satisfactory to serve the needs of local governments mentioned above which includes tax collections identified by specific taxpayer, and that the experience in such states demonstrates that related procedures and reports can be efficiently administered and produced, and that similar laws can be adopted and administered in Arkansas; and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the Little Rock Board of Directors supports amendments to Arkansas laws to authorize and require information to be provided to designated representatives of local governments that will permit them to fully and successfully monitor, evaluate, budget and project local tax collections. Section 2: That any information that can be identified with a specific taxpayer shall only be released following an agreement to keep such information confidential, and that such specific taxpayer information shall be exempt from release under the freedom of information laws of Arkansas. (Page 1 of 21 I Section 3: That the information will: (1) be made available for the monthly collections and calendar 2 year -to -date, by regular mail, email or by dedicated online account at the option of local governments (in 3 electronic worksheet or PDF format), not later than thirty (30) days following the most recent monthly 4 tax distribution; (2) include details and totals that will agree or reconcile to the related tax collections 5 distributed by the State Treasurer to a local government for a particular month; and (3) be updated as 6 required by subsequent adjustments due to refunds, rebates, additional tax payments and any other matter 7 affecting the tax collected for a particular period. 8 Section 4. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or 9 word of this resolution is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or 10 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the resolution which shall remain in full force and 11 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part of the 12 resolution. 13 Section 5. Repealer. All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or parts of the same, that are inconsistent 14 with the provisions of this resolution, are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. 15 ADOPTED: October 16, 2012. IPage 2 of 21 16 ATTEST: APPROVED: 17 18 19 S ,City Clerk Mark Sto ola, ayor 20 )RO AP D S TO LEGAL FORM: 21 22 23 Thomas M. Carpenter, City Att ney 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 IPage 2 of 21