A seven-bill package, SB 579 and 619-624,  is on the House agenda for second reading tomorrow when they return to session. This legislation is one vote away from heading to the Governor’s desk. The package of bills allows separate millages for library purposes to opt-out of tax capture. The League is opposed to this legislation as it is (1) retroactive and (2) does not have a mechanism to address authorities with bonded indebtedness or other obligations using this capture for repayment.

This legislation is a slippery slope and ripe for amendments that could be offered tomorrow which would exclude capture of County millages, or even all special millages. This is also a piecemeal approach after all the time and effort put in to broader TIF reform work the League and a comprehensive set of stakeholders have worked on over the past year.

Contact your State Representative TODAY and urge them to oppose this package of bills. Encourage your municipal colleagues, community groups and business owners in your DDA or other TIF districts to do the same.

Jennifer Rigterink is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development, land use and municipal services issues.  She can be reached at [email protected] or 517-908-0305.