The Town Council last week took action on several items to express its views related to items being discussed in the State Legislature.

The council approved a resolution expressing support for restoration of Highway User Revenue Funds distribution to cities, towns, counties and state highways.

The HURF fund was established in 1974 to make funds available for highway construction and transportation in Arizona. HURF monies are collected from gasoline and use fuel taxes, motor carrier fees, vehicle license tax, motor vehicle registration fees and other fees.

Since 2009 the State Legislature has swept HURF monies to be used for other state budget items. The loss to the Town of Fountain Hills has been approximately $1.4 million, reducing available funds for street construction and maintenance.

Since 2009 the town’s Street Department staff has been reduced from 10 to four, impacting the town’s ability to address routine street maintenance and repairs on streets, signs and traffic signals.

The resolution urges the governor and legislature to restore HURF funding to the full amount outlined by the 1974 statute.

Other bills

Council members also expressed their opinions on several other bills currently making their way through the Legislature.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh noted her concern regarding a bill related to animal livestock abuse and how cases are investigated.

The proposed bill would place all livestock abuse reports into the hands of the director of the Bureau of Livestock in the Department of Agriculture.

Kavanagh said the agency lacks the resources to properly investigate these reports, and they will not investigate deaths.

It also reduces the charges from a felony to a class 1 misdemeanor.

“This is a license to abuse animals with impunity,” Kavanagh said.

Councilman Tait Elkie wondered to what extent the bill would impact Fountain Hills.

Councilwoman Ginny Dickey said the law would impact the town’s ability to investigate such reports.

“We need to look at the big picture and just take a stand that is right,” Kavanagh said.

The vote was a unanimous 5-0. Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen and Councilman Dennis Brown were absent.

The council also voted to oppose a bill related to fees collected by municipalities.

It would limit the town’s ability to collect fees based on size requirement. Town Attorney Andrew McGuire said he believes the bill would restrict or even eliminate the town’s ability to collect for building permits.

He did note that the League of Arizona Cities and Towns does not have a concern about the bill.

The council also opposes a Senate bill that would eliminate sales taxes on electricity for manufacturing operations. There is a concern that the bill could be used at the residential level for work people might do in their garage.

The council also expressed relief that a bill that would have capped tax levies for library districts was changed to remove the cap. The districts will need to adhere to the “truth in taxation” language that all municipalities must follow.

The council asked staff to continue watching that bill as it progresses in the legislature.

Dickey said she has concerns about the bill related to the exercise of religious rights and the economic impact it might have within the state.

Dickey said the state continues to foster a reputation for intolerance, and that she personally opposes the bill.

The bill was being debated on the floor at the time of the council meeting and ultimately approved. The council took no action to express a concern, however, Dickey urged council members to express their opinion to Governor Jan Brewer as she considers signing the bill.