MML March/April 2024 Review Magazine

GROWING MICHIGAN

Putting Recommendations into Action While the council was able to identify some of the key foundational issues that Michigan must address to attract and retain residents, the report notes that there was not enough time to conduct a thorough analysis of how to implement and fund the transformational changes recommended. General funding and implementation strategies detailed in the report include: • optimizing government spending; • maximizing federal resources; • public-private sector collaboration; • reassessing tax policies; and • new revenue generation. League State and Federal Affairs Director John LaMacchia notes that his team is already working on several proposals that align with the GMTC report and would provide more resources for local governments. “It’s encouraging that so many of the League’s core issues have been elevated by the Council. This provides another example of why we need to secure local resources and address structural issues like interaction between Headlee and Proposal A to help Michigan communities make the investments they need to provide the services and quality

of life that people demand,” said LaMacchia. “In fact, there are already several bills introduced in the state Legislature that directly connect back to the GMTC recommendations.” LaMacchia cited House Bills 4274 and 4275, as just one example. That bill package would create a “revenue sharing trust fund” by dedicating a portion of general sales tax revenue to a restricted fund for the purposes of local government revenue sharing. League Board President Robert E. Clark believes it is incumbent on organizations like the League to work closely with state and federal policymakers to ensure our collective expertise is leveraged and the best ideas in the report are acted upon. “As local leaders, we have a unique first-hand perspective on the needs of our communities. It’s up to each of us to be vocal advocates and serve as resources for our state and federal officials to ensure that they incorporate our insights and keep this collective effort to revitalize Michigan on track and moving forward,” said Clark, who has served as mayor of the City of Monroe for the past 14 years. For more information about the Growing Michigan Together Council and its recommendations to make Michigan a top 10 state for population growth by 2050, please visit GrowingMichigan.org. Josh Hovey, APR, is a partner at Martin Waymire. You may contact him at 517-485-6600 or jhovey@martinwaymire.com.

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| March/April 2024