February 23, 2010, Introduced by Reps. McMillin, Opsommer, Lund, Knollenberg, Meltzer and Walsh and referred to the Committee on Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs.
A bill to amend 1909 PA 279, entitled
"The home rule city act,"
by amending section 5e (MCL 117.5e).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 5e. A municipal water or sewage system established by a
city incorporated under this act which serves more than 40% of the
population of the state shall:
(a) Be audited annually by an independent auditor designated
by
the legislative auditor general. No A charter provision shall
not require an annual local audit for the same period. The auditor
shall be paid by the system. The results of the annual audit shall
be
made available to the public in compliance with Act No. 442 of
the
Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the
Michigan Compiled Laws the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442,
MCL 15.231 to 15.246. The annual audit shall be submitted to the
governing body of each city, village, or township served by the
system and to the legislature before December 1 of each year. Each
city, village, or township served by the system shall be audited
annually by an independent auditor. The auditor shall be paid by
that city, village, or township served by the system. The results
shall be made available to the public.
(b) Hold at least 1 public hearing at least 120 days before a
proposed rate increase is scheduled to take effect. Each hearing
shall
be conducted in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public
Acts
of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan
Compiled
Laws the open meetings act,
1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to
15.275. Notice of the time, date, and place of each hearing shall
be
given in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts
of
1976 the open meetings act,
1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275,
shall be prominently printed in a daily newspaper of general
circulation within the area, and shall be mailed to each city,
village, or township served by the system not less than 30 days
before each hearing. A final vote by the governing body of the city
to implement a proposed rate increase shall not be taken until the
hearings provided for in this subdivision are concluded and the
results of those hearings are considered by the city's governing
body. This section shall not be construed to impair the obligations
of a contract. A city shall not be required to hold a public
hearing before the establishment of a water or sewer rate which is
necessary for debt retirement under outstanding bond obligations.
(c) Post on its website all contracts and expenditures that
exceed $25,000.00 made by the system.