Category one to qualify for funding under the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) is due today, October 1, 2013. Category one is accountability and transparency; i.e., dashboard and citizens guide. The dashboard template and F65 Citizen’s Guide are available on…

This week the Senate Energy and Technology Committee discussed a rewrite of the MISS-DIG Act. Last session the Senate passed bills that would create an exception to governmental immunity under the MISS-DIG Act. The legislation that passed the Senate last…

This week the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 387, legislation that would amend the Worker's Disability Compensation Act to include a reserve or auxiliary police officer as an employee of the State for purposes…

Yesterday morning the House Tax Policy Committee reported Senate Bill 25, a bill that would amend the General Property Tax Act to provide property owners with a process to request an exemption from the Department of Treasury for any year…

Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 372 and 396, unrelated bills that both create property tax exemptions.  We have testified in both the Senate and House committees that continuing to mandate local tax exemptions is an issue for…

Last week the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4729, legislation that would require local units to opt out of the Michigan Emergency Management Assistance Compact (MEMAC). MEMAC has been in existence for over a decade; however,…

Last week the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4856 and 4857, legislation that would allow local governments to charge an individual for a rescue if that individual is grossly negligent in an emergency situation. This legislation…

Last week the Senate passed Senate Bills 489 and 490, bills that are the first "fix" bills from the personal property tax (PPT) reform package that passed in December. The bills clarify the process for a businesses to claim exemptions…