Inside 208

The Michigan Municipal League is asking our League members to contact their state lawmakers today to oppose changes to the revenue sharing/Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). These changes were approved in the House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee this morning (March 25, 2014) and are expected to go to the House [...]

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee heard a second week of testimony on House Bill 5184, a bill that would deregulate electricity. More specifically it would move the state from a system of hybrid electric regulation to deregulation. The legislation would require large electric utility companies (at least [...]

This morning the House General Government Appropriations Subcommittee reported its recommendations for the general government budget that includes the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). Under this proposal category 1, the dashboard, would remain in effect without change. Category 2 would require 5 percent of the second EVIP payment to be [...]

The National League of Cities is hosting a free webinar tomorrow, March 26th. Funding the Transportation System of Your Community’s Future Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET Anticipated population growth in metropolitan centers are driving communities to think about how to fund transportation systems needed to meet [...]

Media from all parts of Michigan have reported on the Michigan Municipal League’s revenue sharing study that showed the state has diverted $6.2 billion from local communities in the last decade. The League released the study last week during our Capital Conference and sent press releases to dozens of media [...]

On the final session day of Sunshine Week, the House passed HB 4001, a bill that makes numerous changes to the FOIA law, making it more costly to comply and more punitive for local units of government if a mistake is made.  The bill passed in bipartisan fashion, 102 supporting [...]

This week the House Tax Policy Committee voted out a ten bill package that represents months of negotiations on personal property tax (PPT) reform. The Michigan Municipal League’s message on PPT has consistently been 100 percent, guaranteed replacement. The bills do represent 100 percent replacement and a more stable reimbursement [...]

(Update: View a joint press release on this issue) SB 608 has been signed by the Governor. The bill includes $215 million in general fund dollars for roads. Of that $215 million, $100 million will be distributed through the Act 51 formula to local road agencies to be used on [...]

This week the House passed Senate Bill 636, a bill that would give phone companies the ability to transition from traditional land lines to internet-based service beginning January 1, 2017. The bill would amend the Michigan Telecommunications Act to do make a number of changes including eliminating a requirement for [...]

(Update: View a joint press release on this issue) The Senate and House quickly approved SB 608 after the conference committee voted it out just before noon this morning and it now awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill includes $215 million in general fund dollars for roads. Of that $215 [...]