ADOPTED - MAY 22, 2007

Agenda Item No. 9

Introduced by the County Services and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE ELIMINATION OF PUBLIC ACT 2 FUNDS TO COUNTIES

RESOLUTION #07-115

WHEREAS, the Michigan Legislature is currently looking at proposed legislation, Senate Bill 220, which would completely raid the convention facility fund in an effort to balance the 2007 state budget; and

WHEREAS, the impact on Ingham County would be the loss of $1.6 million dollars that service substance-abuse treatment programs and public safety; and

WHEREAS, annual cuts to county programs in other areas of the budget have left critical county services in an extremely vulnerable position; and

WHEREAS, cuts to substance abuse programs, particularly a cut of this magnitude, is dangerous public policy, especially when taken in concert with current jail overcrowding and recent state proposals to accelerate the number of parolees and shift the sentencing guidelines so more felons are housed in Ingham County; and

WHEREAS, increasingly, counties are being asked to remain responsible for providing extensive state-mandated services while the state cuts county budgets; and

WHEREAS, a recent survey of 27 counties indicates that the state constitutionally or statutorily requires $1.1 billion dollars worth of mandated services; however, only $550 million of those dollars come from the state; and

WHEREAS Ingham County cannot maintain the services currently provided when the state continually cuts funding; it is the residents of Michigan who will suffer when services such as county jails, roads, local public health departments and public safety are cut again.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners opposes the elimination of Public Act 2 funds to counties and urges the Ingham County legislators to do all in their power to protect the vital services Michigan's counties provide. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to the Ingham County legislators and the Michigan Association of Counties.

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  De Leon, Nolan, Copedge, Soule, Severino, Dougan

Nays:  None                    Absent:  None             Approved 5/15/07

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Celentino, Weatherwax-Grant, Grebner, Hertel, Tennis, Dougan

Nays:  None                Absent:  None       Approved 5/16/07