HB 4887, a bill limiting when new millages can be placed on local ballots, will likely see another committee hearing next week with the potential of being voted on as well. A big thank you to all of you who responded to the action alert and contacted your legislator and those on the Ethics and Elections Committee! Your participation is greatly appreciated.

HB 4887 (Rep. Dan Lauwers) is among a package of bills (including HB 5115-5116 dealing with schools sponsored by Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons) and would only allow local municipalities to place new millages on the ballot for the August regular election date or the November regular election date (straight renewals can be done at any of the four election dates).  The argument of the bill sponsor is there is greater voter turnout in the August and November elections so new millages should only be allowed to be voted on during those times. The introduced version of the legislation only allowed a millage to be placed on the ballot for the November General Election but a substitute changing it to each August and November election was adopted.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use issues.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.