This statement is issued by League Board President, Mayor Don Gerrie of Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Michigan Municipal League: 

The League desires a state budget that fosters economically vibrant communities that are well resourced, are safe and secure, and that cultivate deep connections between people and place. This requires we invest in roads, public safety, and ALL services that our residents and businesses rely on.

We must work together to find common ground on increasing transportation funding by $3 billion, with a focus on neighborhood roads, dedicating resources to ensure our communities are safe, and adopting a revenue sharing trust fund that prioritizes the stability of statutory revenue sharing over cuts.

For over a decade we have been advocating to return funding for statutory revenue sharing to cities and villages to 2011 levels. After years of working in a bipartisan manner to restore devastating cuts, we finally achieved that last year. When we are looking to attract and retain talent in Michigan, it is not the time to roll back these gains.

Communities are essential partners in our collective effort to build a better Michigan. As their voice in Lansing, we continue to commit to finding a solution and are ready to work in collaboration with the administration and legislative leaders to pass a budget that improves quality of life, provides economic security, and invests in our infrastructure.