Michigan Municipal League members, including Big Rapids Mayor Mark Warba (right), testified in Lansing recently on an issue facing park and recreation authorities.
Working in conjunction with officials from the City of Big Rapids, the League was successful in getting Senate Bill 481 (Booher) reported from the Senate Local Government committee earlier this week.
The bill, modeled on similar legislation from previous sessions, would expand the definition of an eligible municipality to include a school district.
This change would allow a city, village, or township to partner with a school district to form a recreation authority allowing broader access to recreation programming and facilities throughout a region.
Big Rapids Mayor Mark Warba (left) testifies in Lansing.
Language was added in this bill to address concerns raised previously about the need to clarify the appropriate use of any funds raised by an authority that included a school district.
Following a committee hearing in which Big Rapids city and school officials testified in support of the bill, the committee voted the bill out to the full Senate for consideration once they return from break in December.
Chris Hackbarth is the League’s director of state affairs. He can be reached at 517-908-0304