This morning the House General Government Subcommittee heard testimony on the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget recommendations for the Department of Treasury including the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP).

The first hour of the committee consisted of testimony from the Department regarding their programs and specific recommendations. The committee then heard testimony from the communities present regarding their concerns with the duplicative reporting requirements and bureaucratic busywork into which the program has devolved.

The committee heard EVIP concerns articulated by Alma City Manager Phil Moore, Howell City Manager Shea Charles, and Middleville Village Manager Rebecca Fleury as well as East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett and Clerk Marie Wicks.

The committee appeared receptive to the concerns with the program and will be holding an additional week of testimony to further discuss this issue.

View additional photos from today’s hearing here.

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