Inside 208

The Senate unanimously passed SB 1064 today, a bill regarding collocation of wireless communications equipment on an existing tower.  While the League is still philosophically opposed to the legislation, we appreciate Sen. Kowall’s willingness to work with us in addressing our concerns.  Attached below is a document containing the changes that were...

The Michigan Foreclosure Task Force today launched a free, online Community Foreclosure Response Toolkit  — a unique, user-friendly, one-stop-shop resource to allow community stakeholders like your constituents to easily find the basic information, resources, strategies and best-practice models they need to respond effectively to the ongoing foreclosure crisis in their area. The toolkit website is searchable and...

On Tuesday, May 1st, the Federal Communications Commission, in cooperation with the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), will host an educational workshop addressing collocations of wireless and broadband antennas on communications towers and other structures.  The workshop will take place on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, from 9:30 AM...

On Wednesday, April 25 the Senate Economic Development Committee will be taking up SB 94, a bill that creates a cancer presumption for firefighters. This legislation has passed the House the last two sessions, and it would increase municipal costs an estimated 10 to 25 percent per community at a...

The Senate Finance Committee just posted two additional hearings on the Administration’s proposal to eliminate portions of the personal property tax. The hearings are set for next Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24th and 25th at 12:30pm in the Boji Tower, 124 W. Allegan Street, Lansing. If you are interested in...

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to substantially change the 3rd category for EVIP/Statutory Revenue Sharing for the 2012-13 Fiscal Year. Under the change is SB 954, local communities would be able to comply with the third category regarding employee compensation by EITHER electing to comply with the first three pension...

The Senate Finance Committee began testimony 24 hours after legislation was introduced to exempt portions of the personal property tax. The bills, SBs 1065-1072 would exempt all PPT under $40,000 in taxable value immediately for commercial and industrial. And, they would exempt all “eligible manufacturing” PPT starting in 2016. The...

With a 90 day extension of the current transportation authorization law already in place, the House has passed a bill that would add a additional 90 days and sets the stage for a conference committee with the Senate on their own recently passed two year bill. The House extension however also...

LANSING, Michigan – Officials from throughout the state representing cities, schools, libraries, police and fire stood together Wednesday and called for guaranteed replacement of Personal Property Tax dollars that Michigan lawmakers are proposing to cut. On Tuesday, Michigan legislators introduced a package of bills that phase out hundreds of millions...

This afternoon the Senate Economic Development committee passed SB 1064, a bill that pre-empts local zoning when it comes to colocation of wireless communications equipment on an existing tower. The bill was introduced yesterday afternoon and quickly passed through committee today, just over 24 hours after its introduction. The League...