Inside 208

This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing held a hearing on House Bills 5196 and 5274, bills that create new posting requirements for local units of government. House Bill 5196 requires pubilc entities to post information regarding job classifcations of all its employees including total FTEs, annual wages and [...]

The House Regulatory Reform Committee took testimony and passed out of committee HB 5877 (Denby, R-Fowlerville).  This bill amends the Michigan liquor control code dealing with redevelopment liquor licenses.  According to a recent determination by the Liquor Control Commission, only businesses in cities are eligible for redevelopment liquor licenses (click [...]

NLC has released a report on their annual survey on city fiscal conditions. While cities continue to confront the challenges associated with the economic downturn, a majority of city finance officers report that their cities are better able to meet financial needs in 2012 than in 2011.  What happens at [...]

Recently the League staff attended a meeting with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to discuss how they intend to implement the new federal transportation funding law, MAP-21, which Congress passed this summer. The new law makes several changes to the categories on federal funding and provides some additional flexibility [...]

SB 810 currently in the Senate Local Government and Elections committee would require a village regular election to be held at the general November election. The bill has had one committee hearing and another one is expected this week or next. SB 810 is also tie-barred to SB 811 which [...]

At the November 6, 2012 general election a number of ballot initiatives will be presented to Michigan voters. The Citizens Research Council (CRC) has issued a comprehensive review of Proposal 1, the initiative to repeal PA 4 of 2011, the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act. The analysis [...]

A new Detroit Free Press/WXYZ TV-7 poll finds opposition to Proposal 5 growing across the state, and respected Michigan business columnist Rick Haglund uncovers how and why billionaire Detroit bridge owner Matty Moroun’s is involved in the 2/3 tax vote proposal. Proposal 5 would set in the constitution a requirement that a legislative [...]

This Wednesday, the House Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee is expected to vote on a package of bills that would expand the current state-based Strategic Water Quality Initiatives Loan Program. HB’s 5673-5676 are tie-barred and together would expand the pool of eligible communities to allow for more access [...]

On Wednesday September 12, the Senate Local Government and Elections committee took testimony on SB 1220. This bill would amend the governmental immunity law to revise procedures for the resolution of claims regarding sewage disposal system overflows or backups. In doing so the bill as introduced would eliminate the option [...]

The House Local Government Committee today took testimony on HB 4819 (Ananich). This bill deals with foreclosed properties that are sold at auction, and attempts to address the problem associated with the so-called scavenger auction. According to state law, there must be at least two auctions by the county. The [...]