BIZ: URBAN TOWNSHIPS S.B. 334 (S-2):
FLOOR SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 334 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Dave Hildenbrand
Committee: Economic Development
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 120 of 1961 (which governs principal shopping districts, business improvement districts, and business improvement zones) to allow business improvement zones in "urban townships", as well as cities and villages.
Chapter 2 (Business Improvement Zone) of the Act allows one or more business improvement zones to be established within a city or village. The bill instead would allow the establishment of one or more business improvement zones in a local governmental unit, and would define "local governmental unit" as a city, village, or urban township. The bill would define "urban township" as a township with a population of at least 17,000, in a county with a population of 600,000 or more but less than 800,000, as of the most recent Federal decennial census.
Chapter 2 contains provisions for the establishment of a business improvement zone (BIZ) and a zone plan; conducting an election on those issues; funding a BIZ by assessments on assessable property; amending a zone plan; and dissolving a BIZ.
Under the bill, all of those provisions would apply to a "local governmental unit", rather than to a city or village.
MCL 125.990-125.990m Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
By expanding the provisions of business improvement zones to include urban townships, the bill would increase local unit revenue and expenses in townships by an unknown amount. The actual impact would depend upon the specific characteristics of property included within a zone as well as the provisions of applicable zone plans, including whether revenue for the plan were to be obtained through assessments on property within a zone.
The definition of "urban township" would limit the bill's provisions to Byron, Cascade, Gaines and Plainfield Townships in Kent County.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.
Date Completed: 5-18-11 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. sb334/1112