Wayland City Manager Tim McLean Monday reiterated his alarm over recent actions and considerations by the Michigan State Legislature, once again asserting that local government may suffer severe consequences in loss of revenue sharing.
McLean noted the City of Wayland’s revenue sharing is scheduled to be frozen again this year and at the same time a bill has been introduced to eliminate the state income tax. His obvious question revolves around how local governments will be able to operate and service their residents with less revenue support.
City Councilman Rick Mathis last year told colleagues Wayland has missed out on nearly $1.5 million in state aid over the past 14 years. McLean recently attended a presentation by Anthony Minghine of the Michigan Municipal League.
Commenting on the promise of another revenue sharing freeze from the state, the city manager said, “Michigan ranks last (in the nation) in percentage of investing in local communities, and it will remain last if this continues.”
The bill to eliminate the 4.35% state income tax is a politically popular move, but there is no plan to replace the lost revenue.
McLean noted the Michigan Municipal League is very vocal in its opposition and Wayland Schools Superintendent Norman Taylor, who was in the audience Monday night, echoed the sentiments. Both Taylor and McLean said they have sent new State Rep. Steve Johnson, a Wayland resident, a letter expressing their dismay.
Ironically, former State Rep. Bob Genetski of Saugatuck, now Allegan County Clerk-Register of Deeds, several years ago introduced a bill calling for the income tax elimination while he was serving nearly all of Allegan County in the old 80th District.
McLean has said revenue loss adversely affects the most essential services a municipality provides — infrastructure maintenance and public safety, including road projects, public works and police/fire equipment.
“If there has ever been a time when local government has operated leaner than today, I would challenge anyone to provide data for this,” McLean said after returning from the MML conference. “The state is quick to talk of how they have balanced their budget and how ‘in order’ their own house is. I maintain (and I would venture to guess many of my colleagues would agree) that this was done on the backs of local governments.”
He said municipalities since 2008 across the state have had to slash budgets, drastically downsize their workforce, and cut services to the point of being unsustainable in the long term as a result of recession, lack of revenue sharing and provisions of the Headlee Amendment.
“I think getting Lansing to start investing in communities (on a nationwide scale, Michigan ranks last) would be a good start. I also feel like its time to reform Headlee.
“I am hopeful that the State Legislature will partner with municipalities in finding a solution rather than pontificating. If the state is truly serious about ‘reinventing’ Michigan, it must starting investing in communities.”
PHOTO: Tim McLean