Last week the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4856 and 4857, legislation that would allow local governments to charge an individual for a rescue if that individual is grossly negligent in an emergency situation.

This legislation arose from flooding last year in West Michigan where a person decided to kayak in a flooded river and had to be rescued by public safety officers. While the League supports the intent of this legislation, we do have concerns with how it would interact with existing cost recovery ordinances given that this requires a “state of emergency” and “grossly negligent” conduct.

We are working with the sponsors on this legislation to address these concerns.

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

Last week the Senate passed Senate Bills 489 and 490, bills that are the first “fix” bills from the personal property tax (PPT) reform package that passed in December. The bills clarify the process for a businesses to claim exemptions under the legislation.

The League has been an active part of a drafting group of local government and business representatives who have been working on bills that would clarify the process for claiming PPT exemptions under the new legislation.

Beginning December 31, 2013, businesses will be eligible to claim a “small parcel” PPT exemption if the total value of their personal property in a tax collecting unit is $80,000 (true cash value) or less.  The remainder of the package does not go into effect until December 31, 2015; however, the package is contingent on the passage of a statewide vote in August 2014.

The League was neutral on the bills as they do reflect the work of the drafting group. You can view a copy of the League’s letter to the Senate Finance Committee here: Senate finance 9_13.

We are expecting additional legislation this fall to fix other outstanding issues including the essential services assessment and how we deal with tax capture districts. These two bills now head to the House for consideration.

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

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Low‑Income Energy Assistance Grants.  The RFP makes available approximately $90 million, and invites proposals from public or private entities or local units of government that will provide energy assistance programs that will help low-income households meet home energy costs, and provide services that will enable participants to become or move toward becoming self-sufficient.

The grants are made possible by the newly created Michigan Energy Assistance Program and will be funded by the Low‑Income Energy Assistance Fund which includes $50,000,000 collected through a low‑income energy assistance funding factor approved by the MPSC; and $40,000,000 in Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds provided by DHS.

The deadline for the proposals is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 7, 2013.

The RFP is available on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ website.

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

Category one to qualify for funding under the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP) is due on October 1, 2013. Category one is accountability and transparency; i.e., dashboard and citizens guide.

The dashboard template and F65 Citizen’s Guide are available on Treasury’s website. Category one is substantially similar to last year; however you are additionally required to include a listing of debt service requirements.

If you have any questions please contact the League or Treasury directly at TreasRevenueSharing@michigan.gov

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

Yesterday the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on HB 4194, a bill that would allow a local unit of government to increase the percentage in its budget stabilization fund from 15 to 20 percent.

The committee did not vote on the legislation, but I anticipate additional hearings in the coming weeks.

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

Yesterday the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4624, a bill that would make a full-time firefighter’s ability to work as a firefighter in another community a prohibited subject of bargaining.The legislation is supported by the fire chiefs and the Michigan Townships Association.

The League is opposed to this legislation as it violates local control in the bargaining process. The committee is expected to vote on this bill next week.

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

On Wednesday, September 18 at 12:30 pm the Senate Finance Committee is taking up the first bills to address unresolved issues in the personal property tax legislation.  Senate Bills 489 and 490 address the small parcel exemption (those tax payers who have less than $80,000 true cash value in a tax collect unit) and the process for claiming the exemption.

The League has been actively working with the administration, legislature and other stakeholders to address the outstanding issues in the legislation, and these bills are reflective of the work of the drafting group.

Bills have not yet been introduced to address other outstanding issues including the legality of the essential services assessment and how the legislation will address tax capture districts. Those discussions have been productive in the work group, and we’re anticipating that legislation in the coming months.

We are hearing the legislation could pass the full Senate next week and be taken up by the House the following week.

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

In this year’s budget the legislature included a Communications and Technology (ICT) Innovation Fund. The fund is an annual appropriation and is intended to provide loans to state government agencies, non-profit partners, and local governments to implement innovative tech solutions within their respective realm.  The funds are specifically intended to serve as a way to help kick start technology projects to support modernization or transformation within government.

There is plenty of information available at on the State Department of Technology, Management and Budget’s website (http://www.michigan.gov/ICTInnovationFund).

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

This morning the House Tax Policy Committee reported House Bills 4202 and 4203, bills that would force more online retailers to collect sales tax at the point of the sale. Current law requires customers to report online sales and pay taxes on those sales, but enforcement is not efficient.

This legislation goes hand in hand with the Marketplace Fairness legislation the League has been supporting at the federal level.

The League supports the legislation as it passed out of committee, and it is now on the House floor awaiting action by the full chamber.

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

On Tuesday the House General Government Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the revenue sharing formula.  The committee voted unanimously to request that the Citizens Research Council (CRC) do a study to review the current revenue sharing formula. The specific request from the committee is available here: EVIP Outline for attachment to CRC request

In addition to the committee request Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) also suggested CRC include in its research direct discussions with local units of government as well as a comparison of how other states fund local government. You can view Rep. Singh’s request here: Rep Singh Attachment

The League will continue to work with the legislature and CRC on this project as we move forward into the Fiscal Year 2015 budget year.

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