Inside 208

May 31, 2012

Budget conference committee preserves fire protection grants

The conference committee for the budget of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs approved $9.2 million for fire protection grants, the same amount that was appropriated last year. Fire protection grants are awarded to communities who have state buildings…

May 31, 2012

Transportation “Best Practices” Bill Passes House Committee

On Wednesday May 30th, the House Transportation Committee passed HB 5302 a bill termed "best practices." The committee adopted an H-4 version of the bill that is substantially different from the original bill as introduced which included a host of…

May 31, 2012

House passes new mandates to require additional information posting by locals

Yesterday afternoon the House unanimously passed HB 5196, a bill that would require public entities to post wages and benefits for employees who receive more than $100,000 total compensation. It also unanimously passed HB 5274, a bill that would require…

May 30, 2012

Community Revitalization and Business Development Programs Funded at $100 Million Again!

Yesterday afternoon, a house and senate joint conference committee reported out SB 954 and in doing so funded the Business Attraction and Economic Gardening line item (i.e. the Community Revitalization Program and Business Development Program – which replaced the Brownfield,…

May 30, 2012

MDOT Call for Projects High Risk Rural Roads Program FY 2014

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is soliciting new candidate project applications for fiscal year 2014 High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) program. CLICK HERE to view the notice. The deadline to submit projects is August 13, 2012. Jason Mancini works for…

May 30, 2012

Municipal Loan Bills pass House Committee

Last evening the House Local Government Committee reported House Bills 5566-5570, a package that amends the Emergency Municipal Loan Act to include school districts and amend the criteria for qualifying. The substitute for HB 5566 (the main bill in the…

May 29, 2012

Increases to EVIP/Revenue Sharing For 2012-13 Pass Committee Today

This afternoon, a conference committee of both House and Senate members passed SB 954, which makes appropriations for EVIP/revenue sharing. In the bill, there is an increase of $15 million for the EVIP program, which will bring that total to…

May 29, 2012

House committee considers employee internet privacy legislation

This morning the House Energy & Technology Committee held testimony on HB 5523, a bill that would prohibit any employer (public or private) or an educational institution from requiring an employee to disclose internet passwords and account information for sites…

May 25, 2012

Budget Agreements Yield Increase in EVIP/Revenue Sharing Funds

While the details won't be known until next week, it has been confirmed that the Governor and House and Senate leadership agreed to put additional funding into the EVIP program (formerly statutory revenue sharing) for 2012-13, after the revenue estimating…

May 25, 2012

Katz presents on Innovation Districts to Michigan House Commerce Committee

The Michigan Municipal League and the Brookings Institute worked together to bring Bruce Katz to Michigan for a series of meetings which included a presentation in front of the Michigan House Commerce Committee on Wednesday May 23. Katz spoke to the…

Inside208