Author Archives: Arnold Weinfeld

Governor Snyder announces Regional Prosperity Initiative

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The Governor Snyder administration has announced a new regional initiative. Dubbed “Regional Prosperity Initiative” the effort is meant to better coordinate service delivery and strengthen local economies through greater regional collaboration.

The initiative, first unveiled in the Governor’s 2014 budget request, is making $2.5 million through a competitive grant process for existing state-designated planning regions and Metropolitan Planning Organizations. The goal is to empower local and regional partners to develop a consensus vision and implementation plan for economic success.

According to a press release, all state government departments will begin serving 10 regions across the state, enhancing service delivery and encouraging communities to collaborate on a regional basis. The new regional map supports the governor’s vision that economic development must be viewed as a system that encompasses and coordinates talent and infrastructure along with traditional economic development strategies.

For more information visit www.michigan.gov/regionalprosperity

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or at aweinfeld@mml.org

Senate passes MISS Dig Law rewrite

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UPDATE: The Senate has passed these bills. SB 1083 (S-4) and HB 1084 (S-1) each passed on a 26-12 vote.

The Senate will be taking up SB 1083 and SB 1084 today. The bills as passed by the Senate Energy and Technology Committee rewrite the MISS-DIG Act to create a structure to incent municipalities to comply with the Act.  In those versions, if a local unit of government fails to comply with the Act it is subject to a fine of up to $5,000 from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). A second violation results in a fine of up to $10,000. A third violation carries a fine of up to $15,000 and actual property damages.  All of these fines are preventable by calling MISS-DIG. If facilities are mis-marked, that is not the fault of the local unit of government. The League opposed these in the Senate.

The S-3 substitute is below for SB 1083. Here are the changes:

1. Add effective compliance date for agricultural excavators of “not later than May 1, 2014”.

2. Provide for an “agriculture project ticket” that is good for 36 months provided:
   a. Call to MISS DIG is made to mark the agricultural property;
   b. Any facilities marked are located by the excavator pursuant to Section 5;
   c. The excavator creates a map or diagram of all  facilities including their depth at soft excavation interval sites;
   d. The agricultural landowner keeps map as part of farm records and informs any employees working the fields of the location of all facilities and provides a copy of the location map to any lessee who works the field.
3. Exempt MI Dept. of Transportation from requirement to mark ITS facilities. (Note: MDOT is NOT exempt from the requirement to call MISS DIG when doing excavation nor from the municipal provisions of Section 12.

4. Possible new Section 10(?) or include elsewhere:  “Notwithstanding other provisions of this act, and excavator that complies with this act shall not be responsible for damages that occur to an underground facility that is improperly marked, not marked, or that is determined to be within the “safe zone” as defined in this act.”

5. Page 12, line 15; delete “the location of”

6. Page 18, lines 3-4; the MPSC is suggesting the language of subsection (4) be changed to read something like: “A party to a complaint under Section 11 or Section 12 may file an appeal of a commission order under this Act in the Ingham County Circuit Court.”  The reasoning is that all appeals of orders in complaint cases would go to the ICC, not just those arising out of the Sec. 12 process.

Samantha Harkins is Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

SB 1083 (S-3) final.pdf (252.71 kb)

Personal property tax a priority in lame duck?

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This week Lansing’s local political publication, MIRS, indicated the Speaker has personal property tax form as a top issue to handle in the lame duck session being held the end of November/beginning of December for 2-3 weeks.

The League, along with our partners in the Replace Don’t Erase coalition, have continued concerns about an identified guaranteed replacement for PPT revenue. One source that has been identified is expiring battery tax credits.

This morning we learned one of the top battery makers, A123 Systems, has filed for bankruptcy begging the question of how those credits will be repayed.

We ask you to please contact your legislators and let them know how critical PPT replacement is for our communities. As we speed toward the chaos of lame duck session, guaranteed replacement must be a priority to protect our communities. Call your legislators and let them know PPT must be replaced!

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League and handles municipal finance and labor issues.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

Members urged to take action against Proposal 5

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As one of many groups opposed to Proposal 5, the League is urging members to take a stand and speak out locally to urge a no vote on Proposal 5 this November.

Proposal 5 would require a two-thirds vote of the both the Michigan House and Senate, or a statewide public vote, in order to raise taxes. Since that’s never happened and nearly every tax reform as included tax cuts as well as increases, this proposal would put veto power in the hands of 13 state senators out of a total of 148 legislators. This has far reaching implications on the local level.

Proposal 5 is sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform and funded exclusively to date by Matty Maroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge. Mr. Maroun is also responsible for Proposal 6, which would require a statewide vote prior to the building of any international bridge.

The League is a member of “Defend Michigan Democracy”. Our communications toolkit contains many different items including talking points, sample resolutions and suggested letter to editors. Please do all you can to talk to residents and take a stand.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

League Board votes to oppose Proposal 6

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The MML Board of Trustees, at a meeting held during convention, voted to oppose Proposal 6 on the November general election ballot. If approved, Proposal 6 would require a statewide vote prior to the state involving itself in the construction of a international bridge.

Proposal 6 is the brainchild of billionaire Detroit developer Matty Mouroun, who owns the Ambassador Bridge. Mr. Maroun is trying to prevent the fulfillment of an agreement between the State of Michigan and Canada to build a second span between Detroit and Windsor.

The idea of a second span goes back to a report issued in 2004 and has been in the works since that time. Despite the economic turndown of the last few years, all indications are that the flow of commerce through Michigan between the United States and Canada will continue to increase.  Other reports also have shown that Michigan has great opportunities over the coming years to be a center of international commerce.

In this writer’s opinion had such attitudes about building a bridge been around a half-century ago, we’d still be taking ferries to the Upper Peninsula!  Members are urged to vote no on Proposal 6.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

Blight elimination funds available

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Earlier this year, Michigan received $97.2 million as part of a nationwide lawsuit regarding mortgage foreclosure practices.  This spring, after negotations between the Legislature and Michigan Attorney General Schuette, legislation was enacted (Public Act 296 of 2012) allocating use of the funds.

Of the $97.2 million, $25 million is being used to create a Blight Elimination Program for the purpose of demolishing blighted, vacant, and abandoned properties in order to promote public safety, stabilize property values and enhance economic development opportunities.  

The legisation allocates $10 million to Detroit and $15 million for projects in other areas of the state. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Michigan Land Bank Fast Tracksec Authority have been charged with administering the funds, selecting project areas, and facilitating the demolition of structures.

The application for the program is now open and local governments are eligible entities under the program. For more information see the program statement here.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reaached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

Proposal 5 opposition growing

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A new Detroit Free Press/WXYZ TV-7 poll finds opposition to Proposal 5 growing across the state, and respected Michigan business columnist Rick Haglund uncovers how and why billionaire Detroit bridge owner Matty Moroun’s is involved in the 2/3 tax vote proposal.

Proposal 5 would set in the constitution a requirement that a legislative vote on any tax increase must be approved by 2/3 of the House and Senate or through a vote of the people. Now, on the surface that sounds like a great idea. But the fact is that this proposal is bad for Michigan residents, bad for Michigan businesses and undemocratic, allowing a small minority of legislators (13 out of 148) to stop legislation.

Perhaps that’s why more and more groups from the state’s two leading business organizations to the Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan Catholic Conference also now officially oppose Proposal 5.

Governor Snyder has also taken to the social media airwaves to voice his opposition and concern with Proposal 5.

The League is part of a growing coalition urging the voting public to say no to Proposal 5. Below is fact sheet noting the many different impacts if it were to pass. Also, municipalities are beginning to adopt resolutions in opposition (below). 

For more information on Proposal 5, please visit our coalition website and start to talking to your friends and neighbors about its dangers and to vote no. 

Saline No on two thirds resolution.doc (277.00 kb)

White paper on superminority proposal.doc (33.50 kb)

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

Proposal 5 would halt Michigan’s economic recovery

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Most are now aware that there will be six proposals on the November ballot, one more controversial than the other.  But none is probably quite as dangerous to Michigan’s economic recovery than Proposal 5.

This particular proposal would set in the constitution a requirement that a legislative vote on any tax increase must be approved by 2/3 of the House and Senate or through a vote of the people. Now, I’m no fool, on the surface that sounds like a great idea. But the fact is that this proposal is bad for Michigan residents, bad for Michigan businesses and undemocratic, allowing a small minority of legislators (13 out of 148) to stop legislation.

The League is part of a growing coalition urging the voting public to say no to Proposal 5. Below is fact sheet noting the many different impacts if it were to pass. Also, municipalities are beginning to adopt resolutions in opposition (below). 

For more information on Proposal 5, please visit our coalition website and start to talking to your friends and neighbors about its dangers and to vote no. 

Saline No on two thirds resolution.doc (277.00 kb)

White paper on superminority proposal.doc (33.50 kb)

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

Supreme Court rules proposals on November ballot

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The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered 3 of the 4 outstanding ballot proposals on the November election. This includes the 2/3 legislative vote for tax changes, collective bargaining rights and a public vote for new international bridges.

The only remaining proposal the court rejected was the one that would have added eight new casinos.

The ruling could have far reaching impacts into the future, as the court has apparently upheld what is known as the “Ferency” standard. That standard, derived from a 1980 ruling in “Ferency v. Secretary of State” has allowed the Bureau of Elections to allow ballot proposals to move forward unless it is clear that an entire provision of law is being abrogated or otherwise changed.

The League’s annual convention will feature a session with advocates for and against presenting their views on four of the proposals.  Included in the session will be the proposals regarding collective bargainging rights, emergency manager law, renewable energy standards and 2/3 vote for tax changes.

The League is already on record and is part of a coalition opposing the 2/3 vote requirement. League staff will be analyzing other proposals for their impact on local governments. Look for additional information in the future.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

Supreme Court to decide soon on ballot proposals

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The question of whether or not a number of ballot proposals will be on the November ballot is now in the hands of the Michigan Supreme Court.

The court has held its hearing during which opponents and proponents of four proposals made their case.  A decision is expected to be rendered by September 7th.

At issue are the proposals to guarantee collective bargaining in the constitution, more casino’s, a public vote on any international bridge and a 2/3 vote of the legislature for any tax increase.

Look for additional information in the future on which one’s make it as well as the potential impacts to local government should they pass.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.