LANSING, Michigan - The Michigan Department of Treasury website has a posting dated May 15 which indicates $700,000 is still available in the second and final round of the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). More than $4 million (of the original $5 million) in EVIP funding was awarded for 28 projects throughout Michigan communities during Round 1 in January.

Applications must be submitted to the Department of Treasury by Friday, June 15, 2012 to be considered for this round of grants. For more information about EVIP, including a grant application for local units of government and information on previous awardees, visit www.michigan.gov/treasury and click on the Local Government Services tab. Or, contact: Caleb Buhs --- (517) 335-2167.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

The Michigan Department of Treasury now has new Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) forms/instructions available on their website for communities that would like to certify for the third phase of EVIP by complying with Public Act 152. Click here to view the form and here to view the instructions. The deadline to qualify for this third phase of EVIP is June 1, which was moved back from the original May 1 deadline.

For more information about EVIP and PA 152 compliance, go to the League’s resource page here. Click here to view a power point presentation about the latest EVIP change and click here to view questions and answers from an April 30 webinar hosted by the Michigan Municipal League on the topic.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

Kentwood Mayor Richard Root (center with his wife Karleen at his side) is honored by fellow Grand Rapids-area officials Thursday.

KENTWOOD, Michigan - The League's Summer Minnick and I had the pleasure to attend a luncheon Thursday honoring long-time Kentwood Mayor Richard Root. Mayor Root is retiring after serving as Kentwood’s mayor for the last nine years and he has more than 33 years of service in Kentwood city government.

In his many years of service, Mayor Root has been a huge supporter of the League in numerous ways. He has frequently come to Lansing to fight for Michigan’s communities by testifying at House and Senate hearings on a variety of issues. He also was a regular attendee of the League’s various events and education seminars. The League honored him in 2011 with our Outstanding Service Award and in 2004 with our Excellence in Service Award.

During the lunch Thursday, hosted by the Urban Metropolitan Mayors and Managers group, Root talked about his years of service to the community he loves. The lunch turned into a friendly roast as Root and his fellow Grand Rapids area mayors and municipal managers shared stories from over the years and politely teased and joked with each other. With his wife, Karleen, sitting at his side, Root advised those attending to keep fighting on behalf of Michigan communities.

In retirement, Root said he will focus on his family, his battle against cancer and his favorite hobby – fast cars. Root said he plans to keep his TV tuned to his favorite channel – the Speed network – and he has a 1971 Corvette that he hopes to get out to the race track this summer with his son.


Retiring Kentwood Mayor Richard Root

Tell your lawmakers today to vote no on Senate Bills 1065-1072 regarding the the personal property tax. Use the sample letters here.

LANSING, Michigan - The Michigan Municipal League is encouraging our members to write their lawmakers today in opposition to bills that would eliminate significant portions of the personal property tax that help fund services in cities, townships, villages, counties, schools and libraries. Newly updated sample letters to send to your Michigan Senators and Representatives are available here. Just go to the blue action alert box and follow the instructions starting by clicking "take action".

Earlier this week, the Michigan Senate Finance committee voted 5-2, along party line votes, to pass SBs 1065-1072, the package of bills which eliminates significant portions of the personal property tax (PPT).

The bills exempt all parcels which have a PPT value under $40,000 from taxes immediately. Then, beginning on 2016, they phase out "eligible manufacturing" personal property taxes over the next six years. The bills exempt hundreds of millions of dollars, and while SB 1072 suggests expiring ax credits will fund a portion of the lost revenue - no specific revenue estimates from Treasury have been produced. So, the exact impact on these bills to each community and other entities which rely on PPT is still unknown.

The bills now move to the Senate floor for consideration. While we are not sure which day the Senate plans on taking these bills up, the Majority Leader has indicated he hoped it is soon. Approval of this Legislation would be financially devastating to Michigan's communities, including our cities, villages, counties, townships, libraries and schools. It would also harm local taxpayers.

The Michigan Municipal League is part of a coalition of organizations (called Replace Don't Erase) that is staunchly opposed to these bills. We've testified against them and participated in a press conference in opposition to the bills. The League and other organizations in the Replace Don't Erase coalition also proposed an alternative to SBs 1065-1072, a solution that would scrap the PPT altogether and guarantee replacement funding for all the revenues being taken from local communities and schools.

It is imperative that you contact your Senator now and let them know what the impact would be if these bills become law and urge them to vote NO on SBs 1065-1072. For further information, please go to www.replacedonterase.com. Media throughout the state also has voiced strong opposition to these bills calling the package "despicable", "unacceptable," "murky", "a money grab," "convoluted, "a nightmare for those who have to live through it" and many more colorful adjectives. View the media coverage here. Read the Coalition media statement.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 an mbach@mml.org.