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City of Austin Passes Resolution Supporting Buy Mower Effort
Resolution:

Members of the Austin City Council, Oct 20, voted unanimously in support of the Chamber's Buy Mower, Grow Mower campaign. The resolution instructs department heads, "where practical...and within statutory limitations," to purchase from local businesses. The adopted resolution is reprinted below:

RESOLUTION

In support of the Buy Mower/Grow Mower Campaign

of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

WHEREAS, the City of Austin supports the Buy Mower/Grow Mower campaign of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, which asks citizens, businesses and organizations of Austin and Mower County to shift 10% of their current out-of-area spending back to businesses within Mower County; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that if local residents commit to spending 10% of their dollars in town that they currently spend out of town, they would add over $20 million to our local economy; and

WHEREAS, more local shopping would increase the local sales tax revenue that the City of Austin is using towards its flood mitigation efforts, and

WHEREAS, shopping locally saves time and money because a shopping trip to another community costs about 50 cents per mile each way, which is invaluable time away from work or home; and

WHEREAS, shopping locally reduces gas consumption, pollution, and our dependence on foreign oil; and

WHEREAS, local businesses are staffed by local residents, tax payers, and constituents of the City of Austin.

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Austin City Council, that the City supports the Buy Mower/Grow Mower campaign and hereby adopts the goal that city expenditures, where practical, fiscally responsible, and within statutory limitations, be made with businesses within the City of Austin and Mower County.

Passed by a vote of 7 Yeas and 0 Nays

this 20th day of October, 2008