POLICE & FIRE PROTECTION S.B. 307:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 307 (as introduced 4-11-13)
Committee: Local Government and Elections
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 33 of 1951, which governs police and fire protection, to revise the definition of "qualified city".
The Act allows township boards and the boards of adjoining townships to establish and maintain police and fire departments; purchase police and fire equipment, vehicles, and housing; defray the cost by special assessment, with voter approval; and take other authorized actions. The Act specifies that any reference to townships applies to townships, incorporated villages, and qualified cities; and that any reference to township boards applies to township boards and the legislative bodies of incorporated villages and qualified cities
Currently, "qualified city" means either of the following:
-- A city with a population of less than 15,000.
-- A city with a population of at least 15,000 but less than 70,000 located in a county with a population of more than 200,000 and less than 235,000, if the question of raising money by special assessment and the amount of the assessment to be levied annually is approved by a majority of the electors in the special election district.
(The City of Saginaw is the only city with a population of between 15,000 and 70,000, located in a county with a population of between 200,000 and 235,000.)
Under the bill, "qualified city" would mean a city with a population of less than 70,000, subject to the special assessment provisions.
MCL 41.810 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would alter the definition of "qualified city" to include a greater number of cities. When the definition was added, the only city that met the criteria was Saginaw. The City of Saginaw is close to no longer qualifying under the statute because the population of Saginaw County fell to 200,169 in the 2010 Census. The bill would remove the portion of the definition that considers a county population. As a result, approximately 46 additional communities would satisfy the definition of qualified city. Whether the bill would increase local unit revenue in those additional communities would depend on whether they approved the special assessment allowed under the Act, and the actual amount of revenue would depend on the specifics of the millage rate and property included in the special assessment district.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.