COUNTY COMMISSION SPECIAL ELECTION S.B. 204:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 204 (as introduced 3-1-11)
Sponsor: Senator Mike Kowall
Committee: Local Government and Elections
Date Completed: 9-13-11
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 261 of 1966 (which governs the apportionment of county boards of commissioners) to eliminate a requirement that a special election be held when a county commission vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year.
Under the Act, a county board of commissioners must fill a vacancy in the office of commissioner by appointment within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. In an odd-numbered year, the appointed person serves until the vacancy is filled in a special election called by the board. In an election year, the appointed person serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Under the bill, a person appointed to fill a vacancy would serve for the remainder of the unexpired term (whether the vacancy occurred in an odd-numbered year or an election year).
The bill would retain a requirement that a vacancy be filled by a special election if the county board of commissioners does not appoint someone within 30 days.
MCL 46.412 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no impact on local unit revenue, but would reduce expenditures in local units affected by the bill by an unknown amount. No information exists on the number of county commissioner vacancies that would occur in an odd-numbered year and would require a special election, absent the bill. Data are not available for the cost of these types of special elections, assuming that other elections do not occur concurrently. However, for a general statewide election, the average cost of conducting an election is approximately $2,000 per precinct. It is unknown if the low turnout typical of these special elections results in a lower cost per precinct.
The bill would have no impact on State revenue or expenditure.
Fiscal Analyst: David Zin
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. sb204/1112