WASTE REDUCTION SURCHARGE
House Bill 5236
Sponsor: Rep. David Farhat
Committee: Land Use and Environment
Complete to 11-5-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5236 AS INTRODUCED 11-4-03
House Bill 5236 would amend the Urban Cooperation Act to require that a waste reduction surcharge be approved by a county’s voters at a regularly scheduled election before it is imposed. The bill also provides that a surcharge can be collected by any reasonable billing method, including but not limited to a part of billings for property taxes, water and sewage usage, or other services provided by the county to households within the county.
Currently under the law, a county or an agency responsible for preparing the solid waste management plan may impose a surcharge on households within the county of not more than $2 per month or $25 per year per household for waste reduction programs. The surcharge can also be used for the collection of consumer source-separated materials for recycling or composting, including but not limited to recyclable materials, household hazardous wastes, tires, batteries, and yard clippings. House Bill 5236 would retain these provisions, and add that a surcharge “or fee” could be imposed.
Further and under the law, a county or agency cannot impose a surcharge until the county or agency officials have entered into an inter-local agreement with the officials of the local units of government. Petitions for a referendum election on the question of entering an inter-local agreement can be filed with the local clerks no later than six months following adoption of a resolution to impose the surcharge, or six months following any increase in the surcharge. Upon petition of 10 percent of the qualified electors voting in the last general election, the local unit of government must hold a referendum on whether to reject the entrance into, or terminate, an inter-local agreement. The bill would retain these provisions.
MCL 124.508a
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.