the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

States. A certification from the contractor as to the origin of the steel products used in any
contract is required prior to any payment under a contract.
Sunshine Act: Legislation dealing with the public’s right to know of and attend public
agency meetings at which agency business is to be discussed or acted upon.
Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights Act: Addresses school districts’ powers to adopt various nonproperty
taxes. The Bill of Rights applies to all local governments authorized to levy nonproperty
taxes. It also applies to interest on overpayments of real estate taxes. The law
mandates a local government disclose a taxpayer’s right during an audit, procedures for a
taxpayer to appeal, information about filing and processing claims for refunds or
complaints, and enforcement procedures. Taxpayers have at least 30 days to respond to
requests for information from a taxing jurisdiction and may request refunds of overpayment
of taxes plus interest on any excess taxes paid equal to that paid by the Commonwealth.
The local municipality is also required to appoint a tax appeals board to hear taxpayer
appeals.
Tort Claims Act: Provides that no local agency shall be liable for any damages on account
of any injury to a person or property caused by any act of the local agency or an employee
thereof or any other person. (There are eight exceptions, i.e. vehicle liability; personal
property; real property; trees, traffic controls and street lighting; utility service facilities;
streets; sidewalks; animals.)
Workers’ Compensation Act: A municipally-financed insurance program for injuries or
illnesses sustained by an employee while on the job. The insurance covers the costs of
treatment for the injury or illness and also pays a portion of an employee’s compensation
during the period of disability.
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