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January 31, 2012

Bill to Exempt New Homes from Taxes up in House Committee

Wednesday, February 1st, the House Tax Policy Committee is taking up HB 4134, sponsored by Rep. O'Brien (R-Portage) which exempts new housing construction from property taxes until the home is no longer on "development property" - essentially until it is transferred. The League…

January 31, 2012

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Dedicates Transit Center in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - After years of planning and construction, United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood helped dedicate the new state-of-the-art bus transit facility in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. The Wealthy Operations Center project will house the…

January 31, 2012

Legislation limiting local millage questions considered by Michigan House of Representatives

This morning the Michigan House of Representatives' Redistricting and Elections Committee held testimony on HB 5219, legislation that would limit a local unit of government's ability to ask voters for increases in local revenue. It would limit any initiative that…

January 31, 2012

Michigan House of Representatives committee passes legislation penalizing public employee strikes

This afternoon the Michigan House of Representatives' Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee reported HBs 5023-5026, bills that would impose penalties on public employees who strike and would require written consent for a pubilc employer to deduct union dues from wages.…

January 31, 2012

TIGER 2012 grant funding available

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has announced that $500 million in funding is now available under a fourth round of the TIGER Grant program. Funds will be used for surface transportation projects that have a significant impact on the…

January 30, 2012

Michigan Senate to consider two inch rule for sidewalk liability (again)

Tomorrow afternoon the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee will be taking up HB 4589, a bill that reinstates the long-standing two-inch rule for sidewalk liability. This rule was reversed by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2009, and the Michigan Municipal League…

January 30, 2012

Michigan House of Representatives considers bills penalizing public employee strikes

The Michigan House of Representatives' Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee is taking testimony on a package of bills, 5023-5026, that increase penalties for municipal employees who strike. Michigan law prohibits public employees from striking, and in talking to our members…

January 30, 2012

Michigan Municipal League Selects Six New Members to League Board of Trustees

LANSING, Michigan – Six local government officials from throughout the state were recently named as the newest members of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees.Selected to the Board on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, were Battle Creek Mayor Susan Baldwin;…

January 30, 2012

League Opposes Bill that Shifts Local Road Agencies Funds to Counties

The Michigan Municipal League has major concerns with HB 5304, a bill to require local road agencies that receive less than $50,000 in 2012 would have their funds shifted to their respective counties starting in 2015. The legislation would affect…

January 30, 2012

Firefighter hiring and retention grants available through FEMA

The Federal Emergency and Management Association (FEMA), is accepting grant applications for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program (SAFER). The SAFER program provides funding to assist communities in hiring new firefighters, retaining existing ones, or rehiring those…

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