Earlier this week the League testified in the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee regarding EVIP. We once again emphasized the decade of disinvestment in local units of government and encouraged the committee to increase the amount of funding for EVIP, particularly as the administration has recommended increases for many other programs.

In addition we addressed specific concerns with the EVIP criteria. While philosophically we agree that government at all levels should be cost effective and efficient, the program itself has been inconsistent, challenging, and stifles local creativity. We suggested specific changes to the program that would allow our members to be creative while still demonstrating cost effectiveness.

Please contact your legislators and ask them to increase funding for EVIP and to give us an accountability program that increases efficiencies while not implementing a single approach for our different communities.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League. She can be reached at 517-908-0306 and sharkins at mml.org.