The Michigan Townships Association (MTA) announces its 2022-23 legislative priorities, following adoption of its policy platform by Association member township officials.
The MTA membership approved the Association’s platform on April 28 at the MTA Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the MTA Annual Conference & Expo at the Lansing Center. These legislative priorities will guide MTA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of townships throughout the year.
“Townships provide exemplary services and quality of life to millions of Michigan residents, and our Legislative Policy Platform outlines priorities to help safeguard and enhance their ability to continue to do so,” MTA Executive Director Neil Sheridan said. “It also allows lawmakers and the public to see where we stand on a variety of key issues. We look forward to working with the Legislature and state policymakers to accomplish these goals.”
MTA’s policy platform outlines specific objectives within six broad categories—assessment and taxation, elections, environment and land use, intergovernmental relations, township operations, and transportation. Among MTA’s top priorities are to preserve local authority on local zoning issues and local revenue replacement for property tax exemptions. The Association will also work for additional funding for primary and local roads while advocating for state laws that allow township officials to solve local issues rather than a state-imposed one-size-fits-all approach. Other priorities include the fair valuation of “big box” stores, allowing townships to create special assessment districts for high-speed internet, and training requirements for township planning commissioners and zoning board of appeal members.