Information Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2011

CONTACT: Matt Bach
Dir. of Communications
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org

Governor Provides "Citizen's Guide" Tools to Local Governments

Ann Arbor, Mich. (Feb. 7, 2011) - On Jan. 31, Governor Rick Snyder released his "2011 Citizen's Guide to Michigan's Financial Health," touted as an easy-to-understand look at Michigan's financial situation.

The Michigan Department of Treasury had asked us to send this out as an information item to our members, along with a pair of tools they developed for local units of government to create similar reports. Our members can do as much or as little with it as they like. But we did feel because it was a tool that was “out there” that we would show good faith with the state and pass it along.

We're aware that some members have raised issues about the tools, including concerns that it automatically calculates the "difference" between public and private sector benefits. Please note we are working with the governor’s office on these concerns.

Here is a letter from Gov. Snyder explaining the tools, and a link to the "Citizen’s Guide to Financial Health" online.

We've attached a link to the tools here:
Local Citizen Guide Template - a template to produce your own guide to local finances.
Transparency Tool for Local Governments - a chart-building tool that can be used to generate charts and graphs for use in local reports.

Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services.

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