MML CapCon 2023 Program

YOUR COMMUNITY

2. Restoring Local Resources In 2013, the state Legislature passed legislation that gave a property tax credit to veterans that are 100 percent disabled and required locals to shoulder the cost burden. At that time, it was estimated to have a collective impact on local budgets of just over $9 million. This action by the state to pass this cost onto local units of government has now grown to an estimated $85 million annual cost. Please encourage your legislators to support legislation that would maintain the same level of tax relief for 100 percent disabled veterans and would transform the benefit from a property tax exemption to an income tax credit to ease the burden on local governments. The process for eligible veterans to claim their credit would remain the same, while cities, villages, townships, and counties would get much-needed financial relief from the state. 3. Housing, Housing, Housing! Every community in Michigan has unique qualities and needs, but one issue that comes up more than any is housing. Whether it is the lack of affordable or workforce housing, the need to rehabilitate existing homes, or the desire to create new options to attract talent, the housing crisis is impacting every corner of Michigan. The Statewide Housing Plan identifies the need for 75,000 new or rehabilitated housing units. To help achieve this goal, flexible tools are needed at the local level. Please ask your legislators to Support Senate Bill 129, which would modify the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to expand the definition of “eligible activity” to include housing. This includes housing development activities, infrastructure improvements that are necessary for housing properties, and site preparation that is not a response activity.

Thank you for helping us share these topics with your state legislators.

Let us know how these conversations go by emailing John LaMacchia, the League’s director of state and federal affairs, at jlamacchia@mml.org.

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