On Wednesday August 10, the House Appropriations committee passed SB 449(S-2) 17-2 with 7 members electing to pass with their vote. This bill would increase tipping fees from 7 cents to 12 cents per cubic yard beginning October 1. The bill also extends the current sunset on the fees until 2013. According to the House Fiscal Agency, the increase is expected to raise $1.9 million in addition to the approximately $2.9 million the fee currently generates annually. The DEQ estimates that with the proposed increase, the fee will generate a total of $4.6 million in Fiscal Year 2012.
The committee also passed the medical claims package SB 347 & SB 348. This is a 1 percent Health Insurance Claims Assessment that would replace the 6 percent assessment on HMOs. These bills were assumed in the passing of the budget in May, and will most likely be voted on during the next House session on August 24.
Jason Mancini handles environmental policy for the Michigan Municipal League. Jason can be reached at 517-908-0303, or by email at jmancini@mml.org.
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