May 5, 2008

State Affairs Report

Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Revenue Sharing – Last week, the Senate General Government Appropriations Committee took testimony from the League and League members on revenue sharing. The League advocated for the Senate to retain the governor's proposed 4-percent increase to statutory revenue sharing which was passed by the House (read the League's testimony). The committee is not expected to pass the budget bill until its meeting on May 13. Contact: Summer Minnick

Senate Committee Supports Bills to Reimburse Locals for Lost TIF Capture – The Senate Commerce Committee voted last week on HBs 5539-42, which provide a process for locals to capture revenue that they lost when the Michigan Business Tax exempted personal property taxes. The bills are still expected to see some additional amendments on the floor of the Senate. It looks like the bills will not be passed on the Senate floor until next week; therefore, members will have a very short period of time to prepare their data for submission to Treasury by June 1. Contact: Summer Minnick

Last Chance to Take the League's Quick Online Survey on Unfunded Mandates – What are the most burdensome unfunded mandates the state places on local units of government? Please share your thoughts by taking a quick online survey. Today is the last day! Public Act 98 of 2007 created a new state legislative committee to identifying these mandates and reporting requirements. The League is assisting the committee by providing a "Top 10" list of most burdensome mandates or reporting requirements being placed on local governments by the state. We need to hear from you! Contact: Summer Minnick

Downtown Legislation Hearings Continue – The Senate Commerce Committee last week took testimony on two more bills in the Downtown Package: SBs 975 (Kahn, R-Saginaw) and 976 (Gilbert, R-Algonac) amend the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act to allow its use parcel-by-parcel instead of area wide in downtowns for apartments and other residential structures. The bills would also allow the Act being used to renovate or build hotels to attract visitors to downtown areas. The League testified in support, with a few minor recommended changes. Contact: Andy Schor

Housing and Community Development Fund Bills Move – The House last week passed HBs 4657 and 4658 (Tobocman, D-Detroit), which would add downtown improvements to uses of the Housing and Community Development Fund. The Senate Economic Development Committee also passed SB 1273 (Olshove, D-Warren), which makes similar changes to the Fund and would change the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to the Michigan Community and Housing Development Authority. Contact: Andy Schor

U.S. Senate Moves on Aviation Bill: Highway Trust Fund Solvency Measure Included – The League has received word that the U.S. Senate is starting to debate legislation that will reauthorize the federal aviation program and ensure federal highway investments are delivered. The Senate aviation bill will fill a projected $3.7 billion shortfall in FY 2009. Failure to address this situation would result in nearly $14 billion cut from the federal transportation program next year. Members are urged to contact our U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and ask them to support full federal transportation funding. Contact: Dave Worthams / Arnold Weinfeld

MML Community Excellence Award Race for the Cup, 4 Regions Still to Compete – Join the Community Excellence Award winners circle! Members in Regions 3, 5, 6 and 7 still have a shot at taking home the Cup! Attend your Regional Education Seminar and present a local success story to the attendees in your region. Your peers will vote; there will be one winner from each of the seven MML regions. Each regional winner will then compete at the League's fall Annual Convention for the Community Excellence Award Cup. One community will take home the Cup for a year. Congratulations to the following regional finalists: the city of Oak Park for its Blight-Prevention Project (Region 1); the city of Jackson for its Armory Arts Village (Region 2) and; the city of Au Gres for its Community Library/Cultural Arts Center (Region 4).

House Passes Bill to Give More Communities Money under Metro Act – The House voted unanimously last week to pass SB 108 (Basham, D-Taylor) which would revise eligibility dates to receive funds under the METRO Act. The bill would allow municipalities who adopted resolutions after the distribution of METRO payments for 2007 to be eligible to receive those funds. The amount is $75,920.44; click here for the complete list of 19 communities eligible for payment under this legislation. Contact: Samantha Jones

May is Preservation Month: This Place Matters! – The National Trust for Historic Preservation is commemorating its fourth annual National Preservation Month in May with the theme This Place Matters. Communities are encouraged to participate by highlighting the historical assets of your hometown, either through a press release or proclamation. Visit the website to share photos of historic places in your community.

MAM Capitol Reception Luncheon, May 22 – Members of the Michigan Association of Mayors (MAM), the Annual MAM Capitol Reception Luncheon will be May 22, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the State Capitol Building. Come talk with your legislators and enjoy the company of fellow MAM members. To RSVP or to become a member of MAM contact Nikole Brown.

Federal Update

Ask U.S. Sens. to Oppose Federalized Collective Bargaining – Please ask U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow to oppose HR 980 and S 2123. These bills would federalize collective bargaining among municipalities and their public safety employees, regardless of state and local laws. The League opposes legislation that would put the federal government in charge of the collective bargaining process and the rules governing salaries, hours, benefits and conditions of employment at the local level. Let Sens. Levin and Stabenow know the federal government should not interfere with the local collective bargaining process. Click here for more information. Contact: Arnold Weinfeld

The Buzz

President/CEO of the League Foundation, George Goodman, named Starr Commonwealth Trustee Emeritus

Save the Date

MML Region 3 Seminar
May 9, Cedar Springs

Preserving History, Conserving Energy Annual Statewide Preservation Conference
May 8-10, Dearborn

Sustainable Strategies for Southeast MI: THE PLATINUM STANDARD II
May 9, FREE! RSVP by May 2

MML Region 5 Seminar
May 16, Algonac

Michigan Transportation Asset Management Conference
May 21, Marquette

MAM Capitol Reception Luncheon
May 22, State Capitol Bldg.

Sustainable Energy Project Development Workshop
May 22, Rochester

29 Workshops Statewide: New Planning Enabling Act & Updated Zoning Enabling Acts
May 27 - June 26

MAM Summer Workshop
August 6-8, Sterling Heights
Register by July 9 to Save!

Grants & Projects

MDOT Soliciting Local Bridge Program Project Applications
Apply by June 2

Community Energy Project Grants
Apply by July 15

What's New

"Keep the Promise" Campaign Update: See what your legislators will get from us this week...

League Guest Blogger, Terri Lynn Land, on Customer Service – "As an elected official, there’s no more rewarding feeling than having helped people." Read more…

Last Chance to Take Online Unfunded Mandates Survey

Streaming Audio: The League Asks House Republican Leader about Revenue Sharing

Sample Resolutions: Governmental Cooperation Act

NLC Federal Relations Update

Sample Resolution: Great Lakes Compact and Water Withdrawal Tool

Related Links

Michigan Legislature

Michigan Senate

House of Representatives

Links to Resources

Contact State and Federal Affairs Division - 517.908.0305
Arnold Weinfeld, aweinfeld@mml.org
Summer Minnick, sminnick@mml.org
David Worthams, dworthams@mml.org
Andy Schor, aschor@mml.org
Samantha Jones, sjones@mml.org
Andrea Messinger, amessinger@mml.org
Nikole Brown, nbrown@mml.org