Resources

Finance

Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP)
The Department of Treasury provides information on the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) on their Website at www.michigan.gov/treasury. This information, which includes forms and guidelines, is necessary for communities to obtain their share of EVIP/revenue sharing funding. The information on the EVIP site explains the process that local units need to follow in order to certify for each of the three incentives that make up the program. If you have further questions or would like any additional information, please feel free to contact Evah Cole (517-373-2697).

Fiscal Database
This State Department of Treasury system allows for downloading of population, taxable value, state equalized value, tax rates, tax revenues, fees and charges, other revenues, debt, all major expenditure categories, and much more for counties, cities, villages and townships. Data are available for years 2005 through 2009; 2010 coming soon.

Local Tax Collection & Millage Database
According to the Center for Michigan, in 2007, $14.25 billion in property taxes were collected by local governments in Michigan. By 2010, that figure had fallen to $13.37 billion. Adjusted for inflation, the drop exceeded $1.6 billion in only four years. This “Shadow Tax Cut” has had significant effects on local governments and on Michiganians’ tax bills, but the effects have not been distributed evenly across the state. The Center For Michigan provides a searchable, sortable database of local units’ of government change in tax collections and millage rates from 2008 to 2010.

Understanding Fiscal Health at the Local Level
In addition to a community’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), typically available on the city’s website, there are several helpful resources available to better understand a local unit of government’s fiscal health including: The American Cities Project by Pew Charitable Trusts, which provides research on fiscal, economic and demographic issues for 30 major U.S. cities. Reports and data on local finances are also published by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, and the National League of Cities publishes City Fiscal Conditions and related research. Moody’s Investors Service is a major credit-rating firm with credit reports and information on many local units and the EMMA website is a repository for bond documents cities publish when they sell debt. Lastly, The Municipal Performance Dashboard includes financial and operating measures from local units throughout the state, including revenues, expenditures, OPEB and other categories.

Revenue Sharing Fact Sheet

Tax Abatement: Past Practice and Current Policy Implications?

State of MI Dept of Treasury manuals for local governments:
Uniform Accounting Procedures Manual

Bi-Monthly Estimated Revenue Sharing Payments for Local Governments, Michigan Department of Treasury

Uniform Budget Manual

Uniform Chart of Accounts

Federal Government Manual for local governments:
IRS Public Employers Outreach Guide 2007

FACTA/Red Flag Rules:
AWWA Utility Advisory
Hartland Identity Theft Prevention Program Policy
Public Power Weekly FACTA article
KLC Red Flag Rules for municipal utilities
Georgia Municipal Association sample ordiance

Act 51:
Act 51 Made Simple

Act 51 calculations

Act 51 Sample Resolution

Power Point on Act 51