Inside 208

As reported in a previous post, the House Tax Policy committee took general testimony on TIFs and DDAs this week.  The committee was only about 35 minutes long because of caucus meetings and the Governor’s budget announcement, which didn’t give us a lot of time to present.  The Michigan Association [...]

Yesterday the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4624, a bill that would make a full-time firefighter’s ability to work as a firefighter in another community a prohibited subject of bargaining.The legislation is supported by the fire chiefs and the Michigan Townships Association. The League [...]

Yesterday the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee consideredHouse Bill 4939, a bill that would allow a department head to serve as a city manager. The legislation was prompted by a community in Rep. Knezek’s (D-Garden City) district where the police chief is serving as interim city manager. Under the [...]

Yesterday the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee held testimony on Senate Bill 733, a bill that would amend the governmental immunity law to limit the highway defect liability of a governmental agency for bodily injury to a pedestrian or other person who was not traveling in a motor vehicle [...]

Yesterday the Governor announced his Fiscal Year 2015 budget which included the same level of funding for fire protection grants that was appropriated last year – $9.2 million. Fire protection grants are awarded to communities who have state buildings that are not on the tax rolls to include state office [...]

The Governor has release his annual budget recommendations but they did not include a long-term solution for transportation funding. The budget included $3.4 billion in ongoing funding and $254 million in on-time general fund spending for 2015. The $254 million in general fund dollars will be split into two areas. [...]

The Michigan Department of Transportation has provided the Michigan Municipal League with a PowerPoint presentation regarding the new ADA ramp guidelines. MDOT ADA Presentation In addition MDOT has release a draft memo on Local Agency 3R guidelines to address changes in ADA requirements and how standards apply for a project [...]

This morning the Governor presented his Fiscal Year 2015 Budget to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee. The budget will include a 3 percent increase in funding to the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP), as well as a 12 percent infusion into a new EVIP line [...]

The following statement is from Utica Mayor and Michigan Municipal League President Jacqueline Noonan regarding Gov. Rick Snyder’s state budget recommendations announced today (Wednesday, February 5, 2014): “We appreciate the Governor recommending a 15 percent increase in statutory revenue sharing. We are hopeful that this proposal is an indication that [...]

This week the Senate Banking and Financial Services Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 295, a bill that works to prohibit individuals who own blighted properties from purchasing additional properties. The legislation would prohibit a prospective bidder from bidding on foreclosed property if the person had any unpaid fines for [...]