SD23 - State and Federal Mandates on Local Governments and Their Fiscal Impact

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 45 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
State and federal mandates have been a long-term concern to local government officials. Increased service costs, slowed revenue growth, and reduced federal aid have added to the financial stress faced by many localities. Federal and State officials generally view mandates as a legitimate and necessary tool for implementing State policies. While local officials also tend to recognize the necessity of mandates, they have been critical of the continuous enforcement of mandates without, as they perceive, sufficient monetary resources to comply.

In 1983, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) issued a report entitled State Mandates on Local Governments and Local Financial Resources. To address the continuing concerns of local governments, the General Assembly in 1990 directed JLARC to conduct a follow-up to the 1983 study. The study resolutions (House Joint Resolution 156, Senate Joint Resolution 45) direct JLARC to submit an interim report to the 1991 Session of the General Assembly and a final report to the 1992 General Assembly Session.

This interim report contains two components. First, it provides an overview of previous JLARC studies related to State mandates on local governments. Second, the general study approach to be used in the forthcoming follow-up review is presented.