The League’s CEO, Dan Gilmartin, spoke at a Business Leaders for Michigan forum Monday and I really enjoyed the article about it from MIRS. I especially liked the headline they wrote: “MML: Quality of Life Trumps Taxes.” Here’s part of what MIRS (Michigan Information & Research Service - think a news service for Lansing people) wrote about regarding Dan’s comments:

Gilmartin said ... that lawmakers are wrong to focus on taxes above all else. "We need to understand that quality of life trumps taxes," he said as part of a panel on local government.

But Gilmartin argued that quality of life and business environment are not mutually exclusive. He championed strengthening cities, culture, nightlife and transportation.

"In Michigan, we despise density and sprawl," he said. "We're going to have to figure out what we hate worse."

Revenue sharing has tanked by $4 billion since 2000, Gilmartin said. He said the analogy of running government like a business doesn't apply at the local level. When encountering a local budget, he said, "There's not a business person alive who wouldn't close the doors and find something else to do."

Good job Dan! Read more about the League's stance on ways to improve Michigan here.

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

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