SMALLER COUNTY COMMISSIONS H.B. 5113 & 5114 (H-1):
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5113 (as passed by the House)
House bill 5114 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Jerry O. Kooiman (5113)
Representative Michael Sak (5114)
House Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Senate Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs
Date Completed: 5-26-04
CONTENT
The bills would amend different statutes to allow counties with a population over 600,000 to have fewer than 25 county commissioners. Currently, these counties are required to have between 25 and 35 commissioners. The bills would require them to have "not more than 35" commissioners.
House Bill 5113 would amend Public Act 293 of 1966, which governs charter counties, to make the change described above.
House Bill 5114 (H-1) would amend Public Act 261 of 1966, which provides for the apportionment of county boards of commissioners. Under this bill, counties with a population between 600,000 and 1 million could have not more than 35 commissioners, and counties with a population over 1 million could have between 25 and 35 commissioners.
MCL 45.504 (H.B. 5113) Legislative Analyst: J.P. Finet
MCL 46.402 (H.B. 5114)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no impact on State or local revenue but could reduce local unit expenses. Under the 2000 Census, Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties exceed 600,000 in population and, given historical growth rates, Kent County is likely to exceed 600,000 in the 2010 Census. House Bill 5113 would eliminate the minimum requirement of 25 county commissioners for a charter county with a population of 600,001 to 1 million. There are currently no charter counties with a population within this range, although if Macomb County converted to a charter county it would be affected by the bill. Similarly, if Kent County became a charter county and the population did exceed 600,000 in the 2010 Census, Kent County would be affected by the bill at that time.
House Bill 5114 (H-1) would affect counties that are not charter counties and have a population over 600,000. The bill would eliminate the minimum requirement of 25 commissioners but keep the maximum of 35. Thus, Macomb and Oakland Counties could reduce the number of county commissioners, from the 26 commissioners in Macomb County and the 25 commissioners in Oakland County. Similarly, if the population of Kent County
exceeded 600,000 in the 2010 Census, the county would not be required to increase the number of county commissioners.
This analysis is preliminary and will be revised as new information becomes available.
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. hb5113&5114/0304