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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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This article about the 2009-2010 budget lays out the issues affecting the well being of all Michigan commuities. Revenue sharing cuts have put maany communities on the brink of bankruptcy and the state continues to take. The state Cable bill took awaay franchise fees from communities and gave them to the state. Until the state gains contro; of their expenditures, what can the rest of MIchigan expect.
Revenue Sharing Cuts Devastating Communities, Threatening Public Safety
Impact of Cuts will be Traced Back to Votes of House, Senate
LANSING, Mich. – More deep cuts to revenue sharing being advanced by the Legislature will threaten police and fire protection across the state, local leaders from across Michigan warned today.
After slashing revenue sharing by about $3 billion in the past eight years, state lawmakers are now considering another $162 million in revenue sharing cuts from the Governor’s recommendation for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget. Revenue sharing funds essential local services, including police and fire protection, safe drinking water, sewer systems, road and bridge maintenance, and more.
The cuts of the past eight years have already caused the layoffs of more than 2,400 police officers and 1,800 firefighters across the state. The additional reductions awaiting final legislative approval could double the number of police and fire layoffs, local officials said.
“Cuts of this magnitude directly affect the health, public safety and welfare of every citizen and business in this state,” said MML President and Troy City Councilmember Robin Beltramini. “This cut is the equivalent of losing more than 2,000 police officers. If legislators are so concerned about losing 100 state police officers, they should be more concerned about what losing 2,000 local police officers will mean to the state, citizen safety, and jobs!”
Even as the Legislature guts revenue sharing, the state is collecting billions of dollars in emergency “stimulus” funds from the federal government. The funds are being appropriated, in part, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The state is using almost all of the ARRA funds at its discretion to fix its own budget, even though the law specifically states the funds are supposed to relieve fiscal stress in local governments too.
“At the same time the state is cutting revenue sharing, it’s keeping for itself ARRA funds that are supposed to also go to local governments to avoid essential service reductions and local tax increases,” Beltramini said. “It is time for the Legislature and governor to stop making cuts that damage local communities and their ability to create the kinds of safe, vibrant places that attract jobs and employers and keep our college students home.”
Howell Police Chief George Basar, who is also serving as president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said revenue sharing cuts are threatening public safety across the state.
“Lawmakers continue to say public safety is the priority, yet their actions don’t match their words,” he said. He noted the state has 2,400 fewer police officers now than eight years ago.
Lansing Fire Chief Tom Cochran said, “The cuts-only policies in Michigan must stop if the Legislature is concerned about maintaining safe communities and a high quality of life. Adequate fire and police protection are minimum standards for individuals locating in a community. We must be able to provide these to move toward a more prosperous state.”
Summer Minnick, Director of State Affairs for MML, discusses revenue sharing cuts with Walt Sorg on WILS AM-Lansing
Grand Rapids Interim City Manager Eric DeLong said endless budget cuts are reactionary and dangerous and do nothing to solve Michigan’s long term problems.
“Revenue sharing cuts combined with a decline in property values and local income taxes is killing the ability of local governments to provide basic services,” he said. “It is time to actually solve the problem by taking a look at our entire tax system.”
He also noted property values are hinged on the quality of life and level of service provided in a community. “At a time when we are looking to the state to help resolve the issues hurting our communities, they are making decisions that exacerbate our existing problems,” he said.
The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. For more information, visit www.mml.org.
LANSING, Mich. – More deep cuts to revenue sharing being advanced by the Legislature will threaten police and fire protection across the state, local leaders from across Michigan warned today.After slashing revenue sharing by about $3 billion in the past eight years, state lawmakers are now considering another $162 million in revenue sharing cuts from the Governor’s recommendation for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget. Revenue sharing funds essential local services, including police and fire protection, safe drinking water, sewer systems, road and bridge maintenance, and more.The cuts of the past eight years have already caused the layoffs of more than 2,400 police officers and 1,800 firefighters across the state. The additional reductions awaiting final legislative approval could double the number of police and fire layoffs, local officials said.“Cuts of this magnitude directly affect the health, public safety and welfare of every citizen and business in this state,” said MML President and Troy City Councilmember Robin Beltramini. “This cut is the equivalent of losing more than 2,000 police officers. If legislators are so concerned about losing 100 state police officers, they should be more concerned about what losing 2,000 local police officers will mean to the state, citizen safety, and jobs!”Even as the Legislature guts revenue sharing, the state is collecting billions of dollars in emergency “stimulus” funds from the federal government. The funds are being appropriated, in part, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The state is using almost all of the ARRA funds at its discretion to fix its own budget, even though the law specifically states the funds are supposed to relieve fiscal stress in local governments too.“At the same time the state is cutting revenue sharing, it’s keeping for itself ARRA funds that are supposed to also go to local governments to avoid essential service reductions and local tax increases,” Beltramini said. “It is time for the Legislature and governor to stop making cuts that damage local communities and their ability to create the kinds of safe, vibrant places that attract jobs and employers and keep our college students home.” : : : : : : : : : : :
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:51 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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<< Public transit protected in budget | Bill to Assist in Recouping Parking Citation Dollars Passes Senate >>
New Revenue Sharing Program Set for Michigan Communities
May 26, 2011 16:18 by Summer Minnick
Today, the legislature passed an omnibus budget bill which finalized the criteria for the new statutory revenue sharing program called Economic Vitality Incentive Program.
The amount each community is able to qualify for is 67.8% of their 2009-10 statutory revenue sharng payment.
No community who received less than $4,500 in total of statutory payments will be eligible to qualify. The three criteria are listed in the attached document. The Department of Treasury is charged with setting up the certification process. And, the bill states that the department is not required to review the documentation in order for communities to get their payments. Payments will go out as they have been, on the last day of every other month starting in October. We will continue working with Treasury to determine when more information will be available for members regarding the certification process.
Summer Minnick is the Director of State Affairs for the League. She can be reached at (517) 908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org
EVIP Payment Info.pdf |
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:56 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Inside208 | New Revenue Sharing Program Set for Michigan Communities
May 26, 2011 ... Michigan Municipal League - Better Communities. Better Michigan. ... New Revenue Sharing Program Set for Michigan Communities ...
http://www.mml.org/advocacy/inside208/post/New-Revenue-Sharing-Program-Set.aspx - 43k - Cached - Similar pages
Revenue Sharing
Within this link are the 3 criteria for future revenue sharing, including proposals for cooperation between governmental bodies and increases in benefit costs for future employees. |
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:02 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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THE HISTORY OF REVENUE SHARING
[PDF] Communities Count File Format:- Block all www.mml.org results
Not helpful? You can block www.mml.org results when you're signed in to search.www.mml.org
PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
Better Michigan. Communities Count. Revenue Sharing. History. Michigan cities, villages and townships receive revenue earmarked by the state constitution ...
www.mml.org/advocacy/resources/rev-shrng-feb07.pdf - Similar[PDF] City of Grand Rapids History of State Revenue Sharing File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan reports that Michigan's budget problems are ... The following is a brief history of State Revenue Sharing. ...
www.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?binobjid=2962[PDF] FIRST AID FOR MICHIGAN MUNICIPALITIES: BAND-AIDS OR TOURNIQUETS? File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
Oct 7, 2010 ... Michigan. REVENUE SHARING IN MICHIGAN. Michigan's Revenue Sharing has a history that began in the 1930s, “when 85 percent of ...
www.gvsu.edu/spna/abfm/papers10/robbins.pdf |
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:08 am |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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| Not to worry, the Obama bucks should start raining down on us any day now. |
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I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:29 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Obama bucks have been raining down. Only problem is they are being steered to the "Ole Boy" network. |
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Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:44 pm |
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Adam
F L I N T O I D
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| I've heard Detroit may still get some massive welfare handouts but it does kind of make sense to stop stealing money from well run communities to redistribute to ones run like Flint and Detroit. |
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Adam
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Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:45 pm |
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