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Advocacy

Advocacy

Legislative Link June 24, 2008

State Affairs Report

Revenue Sharing Still on the Table – The governor's 4-percent statutory revenue sharing increase is still on the table. Although, it has been rumored Senate Republican leadership is pushing to have the $16 million removed, it is vital that League members talk to Republican senators over the next week to ensure they recognize how critical this funding is – Visit the League's Action Center for contact information. Contact: Summer Minnick

The League Participates in Workgroup on Bill to Expand Poverty Exemptions – The League participated in a workgroup to discuss issues with HB 6162 (Tobocman, D-Detroit), which would have originally provided an automatic property tax exemption on homes with incomes of 200 percent poverty levels if they applied for the exemption. The League testified last week in opposition to the bill. During the workgroup there was some agreement regarding retaining local control on income and asset guidelines, while streamlining the application. The League will keep you posted when a new draft is prepared and up in committee again. Contact: Summer Minnick

Urban Grocery Stores Incentive – The House Commerce Committee heard testimony on SB 294 (Jansen, R-Cutlerville), which allows grocery stores and delicatessens to receive Commercial Rehabilitation Act abatements for urban and rural underserved areas. The League testified in support of these bills, expressing the importance of fresh food in urban neighborhoods. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation also expressed support. Contact: Andy Schor

PA 198 Technical Fixes – The House Commerce Committee heard testimony on SB 218 (Basham, D-Taylor), which would allow administrative fixes when technical flaws arise in PA 198 abatements (such as minor problems in the applications or deadline errors). Instead of seeking to change the law each time, it will allow communities to quickly approve these abatements and create jobs and economic development. The League supported this bill in committee. Contact: Andy Schor

Rental Property Inspections – SB 635 (Garcia, R-Howell), legislation dealing with rental property inspections, passed Senate committee last week. After many workgroups, the language in the bill was drastically changed to allow communities to accept Michigan State Housing Development Authority or Housing and Urban Development inspections as their own; give communities more options for inspections and; require communities to provide information on the fees assessed, costs incurred, and number of units inspected upon requests (if these are not available the local could charge to produce them as long as they document the charges). The League indicated neutrality on the bill. Contact: Andy Schor

Downtown Bills Receive House Hearing – The House Commerce Committee took up two more bills in the downtown package for testimony. SB 980 (Pappageorge, R-Troy) would allow new personal property tax abatements in downtowns in distressed areas. SB 978 (Stamas, R-Midland) would require the Natural Resources Trust Fund to give urban trails priority. Contact: Andy Schor

Billboard Bill on Senate Floor – The Senate last week discharged SB 1370 (Gilbert, R- Algonac) to the Senate floor. The bill would amend the law dealing with billboards by creating a definition for nonconforming uses, allowing for certain changes to nonconforming uses, changing the distance requirements for billboards, allowing owners to maintain billboards so they are not blighted and making vegetation changes. Although the hearing was cancelled and the bill was brought directly to the Senate floor, the League indicated concerns with the bill. If your community has questions or concerns about billboards or this legislation, please contact League staff as soon as possible. Contact: Andy Schor

MAM Summer Workshop: Register Now to Save! – Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM) members are reminded that the early-bird registration deadline for the MAM Summer Workshop (August 6-8, 2008) is July 9. Co-hosted by the cities of Sterling Heights and Utica, this year's workshop features a fantastic lineup of speakers and sessions to help chief elected officials and their communities address legacy costs. Download the registration form today! Contact: Nikole Brown

MI Public Service Commission Contact Information – When the Michigan Legislature passed the cable franchise legislation in late 2006 (PA 480), the statute charged the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) with implementing the Act. View the letter sent by the MPSC containing contact information or visit the MPSC website which is specifically designated for cable issues. Contact: Samantha Jones

League Quick Poll: Millage Election – Is your community holding an August or November millage election? What for? – Please participate in a quick online survey to let us know!

New MDOT Instructional Memos – The latest instructional memorandums from the Michigan Department of Transportation's Bureau of Highway, BOHM 2008-11 and BOHM 2008-12, are available on MDOT's website. Public Works employees are urged to review these and other instructional memos. Contact: Dave Worthams

MI Downtown Conference Call-for-Award Nominations – The deadline to submit nominations for the 2008 Michigan Downtown Conference Annual Awards, which recognize excellence in downtown revitalization, is July 15, 2008. Any community may submit nominations online in the Project-Based category and participants of the Michigan Main Street program may submit in the Main Street category. Main Street projects may be considered in a Project-Based category. For a complete description of the award criteria visit: Michigan Downtown Conference.

Federal Update

Transportation Policy Subject of Upcoming Hearings – This fall, Congress will turn its attention to legislation authorizing federal surface transportation programs, which expire September 30, 2009. Current legislation, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU), provides $244.1 billion in funding for highways, highway safety and public transportation, and represents the largest surface transportation investment in U.S. history. Local governments own and operate 77 percent of roadways, 50 percent of bridges and 94 percent of transit systems in the nation. Over the next few weeks, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will conduct preliminary discussions on a new bill. Rep. James Oberstar (MN-8), ranking member of the committee, recently shared his thoughts on the subject with Roll Call magazine. The Brookings Institution also weighed-in, releasing A Bridge to Somewhere: Rethinking American Transportation for the 21st Century at its recent Summit for American Prosperity. The League will be working with its partners in Washington as this issue progresses. Contact: Arnold Weinfeld

Future Surface Transportation Program Survey– State and local organizations together are gathering elected officials' opinions on the next surface transportation program. Survey results, coordinated by the National League of Cities and other national local government associations, will be shared with Congress as the debate on surface transportation gets underway. Please add your voice to this debate - complete the online survey by July 2. Contact: Arnold Weinfeld

Federal Relations Report – Check out the latest National League of Cities Federal Relations Report for an update on the Senate's debate on housing legislation, the new proposed Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, Amtrak reauthorization and more!