During Governor Snyder’s second State of the State speech last night he discussed a few issues of importance to local communities.

Personal Property Tax:

Governor Snyder mentioned the need to eliminate the PPT, but also mentioned the great importance of local communities and the services they provide.  He called for an elimination of the PPT while still supporting the necessary local government services like police and fire in our communities. 

Public Safety:

The governor mentioned he would be giving a special message on public safety in March.  He stated it is unacceptable for Michigan to have 4 of the top 10 most violent cities in the nation (Detroit, Flint, Pontiac and Saginaw).  We look forward to seeing what solutions the governor has and how he intends for such initiatives to be funded.

Transportation Funding:

Governor Snyder reiterated the fact that there is a $1.4 billion shortage in funding for our roads.   There will be a large package of transportation bills introduced in the next few weeks and hearings will start immediately.  He also briefly mentioned a need for a regional transportation authority in Southeast Michigan.

Nikki Brown is the Capital Office Coordinator for the League.  She can be reached at [email protected].