PA 312 and Urban Cooperation Act hearing tomorrow morning at 8:30!

Tomorrow morning the Senate is holding a hearing at 8:30 a.m. to discuss PA 312 and the Urban Cooperation Act.  Last week the Senate announced a list of reforms that include PA 312 and the Urban Cooperation Act.  Unfortunately the PA 312 bill that was introduced, SB 1072, simply makes changes to the process without making important substantive changes like adding a definition of ability to pay and including internal comparables. Similarly the Urban Cooperation Act bills are the same watered down version that passed the House last session without making the needed changes to remove those barriers to cooperation.  

For over 40 years the League has been pushing for changes to PA 312.  We appreciate that it is on the reform agenda; however, without substantive changes local units of government will continue to be unable to control costs resulting in public safety layoffs and fewer services in their communities. 

Reforming PA 312 is critical to the fiscal stability of our communities.  The decisions made under this law have been detrimental to our local units of government for four decades.  The changes proposed in SB 1072 are a start, but real reform means including a definition of ability to pay and internal comparables means that real reform.  There is another bill, HB 5325, that has the language needed to help communities control their budgets.  HB 5325 reflects the changes we need in PA 312.  The House also has bills that are the needed changes to the UCA. HBs 5090 and 4151 reflect the language needed to remove barriers to cooperation. 

The Senate is holding a hearing tomorrow morning at 8:30 in the Boji Tower on the first floor.  We need our members to come out and tell the legislature why substantive amendments to these laws are vital for our communities and discuss the changes made.  If you can’t come to Lansing, contact your legislator today to ask for ability to pay and internal comparables to be included in the PA 312 bill and to strike language in the UCA that is a hindrance to cooperation.    

For more information on PA 312, visit www.abilitytopay.org