RECREATIONAL AUTHORITIES

House Bill 4578 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Phil Potvin

Committee:  Local Government

Complete to 9-30-15

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4578 would amend the Recreational Authorities Act to include school districts.  Currently under the law, the term "municipality" used in the act is defined to mean a city, county, village, or township.  The bill would expand this definition to also include a school district.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Recreational Authorities Act allows two or more municipalities or districts to join together to create a recreational authority in order to provide recreational facilities and services.  The act authorizes such an authority to acquire, construct, operate, maintain, or improve public swimming pools, recreation centers, auditoriums, conference centers, parks, museums, and public historic farms. 

Under the act, a recreational authority can levy a tax of up to one mill for up to 20 years, if the tax is approved by a majority of the voters in each of the participating municipalities at a statewide general or primary election. The tax is collected with county taxes and distributed by the local tax collecting unit under the provisions the General Property Tax Act.  An authority also has the ability to borrow money and issue bonds or notes, up to specified limits.  An authority is governed by a board selected or elected as determined the articles of incorporation.

MCL 123.1133

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.