Inside 208

This Saturday local communities scored a big victory when the Senate voted on an amendment to support Marketplace Fairness as part of the Budget Resolution. The amendment passed 75-24 with BOTH Michigan Senators Stabenow and Levin voting yes. The vote was considered a test vote because it is non-binding as [...]

This week is the first of two weeks of the legislature’s in district work period they take every year. As a result many legislators will not be in Lansing, and legislative session will not be held. Several committees will be meeting over the break, however, including the House General Government [...]

The legislature has passed several pieces of legislation allowing for some of the dredging needs across Michigan to be addressed. The most critical piece of legislation passed was a supplemental appropriations bill, Senate Bill 233, which will dedicate funds to allow for emergency dredging in 49 harbors. Other legislation sent [...]

MDOT has released the timeliness report for bridge safety inspections for local agencies. A copy of the report can be found below. Local Summary March 2013.pdf (33.00 kb) John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation issues. He can be reached at [email protected] or 517-908-0303.

The Small Urban Program is looking to advance previously committed projects from FY 2014 to 2013. They are asking you to review the attached list and notify them if projects can be advanced by April 1, 2013. To qualify, all projects must be design ready with program applications submitted to [...]

LANSING, Michigan – Several Michigan cities have recently approved resolutions calling for increased support for Michigan’s transportation system. The Michigan Municipal League last month called for our members to consider passing such resolutions and then sending them to state Legislators. So far resolutions have been drafted and approved in the [...]

We understand that the U.S. Senate is voting on an Amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution which will support the Marketplace Fairness Act either today, or over the weekend. The Amendment would bring sales tax parity with online retailers by allowing states to collect sales taxes on internet transactions. It [...]

Earlier this week the League testified in the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee regarding EVIP. We once again emphasized the decade of disinvestment in local units of government and encouraged the committee to increase the amount of funding for EVIP, particularly as the administration has recommended increases for many other [...]

As Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Dave Camp held his first hearing on the impact of tax reform on local governments this week. As part of this discussion, Congress is considering eliminating the federal tax exempt status of municipal bonds. We continue to need your help! [...]

A package of bills has been introduced in response to the recent highly publicized issue surrounding tax capture for the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Zoo milages.  HB 4458-4464 would prohibit a TIF district from keeping tax increment revenues from ad valorem property taxes levied under the Zoological [...]