Press Release

Contact:

Matt Bach
Director of Media Relations
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317; C: (810) 874-1073
mbach@mml.org; www.mml.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 17, 2017

Michigan Municipal League Calls on State to Address Municipal Finance Concerns

Response to Governor Snyder's State of the State

The following can be attributed to Chris Hackbarth, director of state affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.

“We are pleased to hear Gov. Snyder acknowledge the key role that our communities play in the success of our state. We especially appreciate his support for placemaking efforts and recognition that ‘good communities lead to good states.’ We are also encouraged by his support for investment in infrastructure.

“However, the state’s deteriorating infrastructure is a symptom of a larger problem, which is a systematic disinvestment in Michigan’s communities for more than a decade. We agree with the Governor that looking at restructuring our legacy costs is an important issue to address in the coming session. We look forward to working with him and the Legislature to address retirement issues and to fix the state’s broken system for funding municipalities, because our current system simply does not track with the economy. We must provide communities the tools they need to operate more efficiently and attract talent necessary for Michigan’s economic recovery.”

Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.

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