Act No. 229
Public Acts of 2012
Approved by the Governor
June 26, 2012
Filed with the Secretary of State
June 29, 2012
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 2012
STATE OF MICHIGAN
96TH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2012
Introduced by Reps. Ouimet and Irwin
ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5142
AN ACT to amend 2005 PA 280, entitled “An act to provide for the establishment of a corridor improvement authority; to prescribe the powers and duties of the authority; to correct and prevent deterioration in business districts; to encourage historic preservation; to authorize the acquisition and disposal of interests in real and personal property; to authorize the creation and implementation of development plans and development areas in the districts; to promote the economic growth of the districts; to create a board; to prescribe the powers and duties of the board; to authorize the levy and collection of taxes; to authorize the issuance of bonds and other evidences of indebtedness; to authorize the use of tax increment financing; to prescribe powers and duties of certain state officials; to provide for rule promulgation; and to provide for enforcement of the act,” by amending sections 2, 4, 6, and 8 (MCL 125.2872, 125.2874, 125.2876, and 125.2878), sections 2 and 6 as amended by 2008 PA 44.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) “Advance” means a transfer of funds made by a municipality to an authority or to another person on behalf of the authority in anticipation of repayment by the authority. Evidence of the intent to repay an advance may include, but is not limited to, an executed agreement to repay, provisions contained in a tax increment financing plan approved prior to the advance, or a resolution of the authority or the municipality.
(b) “Assessed value” means the taxable value as determined under section 27a of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.27a.
(c) “Authority” means a corridor improvement authority created under section 4(1) or a joint authority created under section 4(2).
(d) “Board” means the governing body of an authority.
(e) “Business district” means an area of a municipality zoned and used principally for business.
(f) “Captured assessed value” means the amount in any 1 year by which the current assessed value of the development area, including the assessed value of property for which specific local taxes are paid in lieu of property taxes as determined in section 3(d), exceeds the initial assessed value. The state tax commission shall prescribe the method for calculating captured assessed value.
(g) “Chief executive officer” means the mayor of a city, the president of a village, or the supervisor of a township.
(h) “Development area” means that area described in section 5 to which a development plan is applicable.
(i) “Development plan” means that information and those requirements for a development area set forth in section 21.
(j) “Development program” means the implementation of the development plan.
(k) “Fiscal year” means the fiscal year of the authority.
(l) “Governing body” or “governing body of a municipality” means the elected body of a municipality having legislative powers or, for a joint authority created under section 4(2), the elected body of each municipality having legislative powers that is a member of the joint authority.
(m) “Initial assessed value” means the assessed value, as equalized, of all the taxable property within the boundaries of the development area at the time the resolution establishing the tax increment financing plan is approved, as shown by the most recent assessment roll of the municipality for which equalization has been completed at the time the resolution is adopted. Property exempt from taxation at the time of the determination of the initial assessed value shall be included as zero. For the purpose of determining initial assessed value, property for which a specific local tax is paid in lieu of a property tax shall not be considered to be property that is exempt from taxation. The initial assessed value of property for which a specific local tax was paid in lieu of a property tax shall be determined as provided in section 3(d).
(n) “Land use plan” means a plan prepared under former 1921 PA 207, former 1943 PA 184, or a site plan under the Michigan zoning enabling act, 2006 PA 110, MCL 125.3101 to 125.3702.
(o) “Municipality” means 1 of the following:
(i) A city.
(ii) A village.
(iii) A township.
(iv) A combination of 2 or more cities, villages, or townships acting jointly under a joint authority created under section 4(2).
Sec. 4. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a municipality may establish multiple authorities. A parcel of property shall not be included in more than 1 authority created under this act.
(2) A city, village, or township located in a county with a population of more than 335,000 and less than 415,000 and that has not less than 2 state public universities within its boundaries may by resolution join with 1 or more cities, villages, or townships located in a county with a population of more than 335,000 and less than 415,000 and that has not less than 2 state public universities within its boundaries to create a joint authority under this act.
(3) An authority is a public body corporate which may sue and be sued in any court of this state. An authority possesses all the powers necessary to carry out its purpose. The enumeration of a power in this act shall not be construed as a limitation upon the general powers of an authority.
Sec. 6. (1) If the governing body of a municipality determines that it is necessary for the best interests of the public to redevelop its commercial corridors and to promote economic growth, the governing body may, by resolution, do 1 of the following:
(a) Declare its intention to create and provide for the operation of an authority.
(b) Declare its intention to jointly create and provide for the operation of a joint authority created under section 4(2).
(2) In the resolution of intent, the governing body shall state that the proposed development area meets the criteria in section 5, set a date for a public hearing on the adoption of a proposed resolution creating the authority, and designate the boundaries of the development area. Notice of the public hearing shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, not less than 20 or more than 40 days before the date of the hearing. Not less than 20 days before the hearing, the governing body proposing to create the authority shall also mail notice of the hearing to the property taxpayers of record in the proposed development area, to the governing body of each taxing jurisdiction levying taxes that would be subject to capture if the authority is established and a tax increment financing plan is approved, and to the state tax commission. Failure of a property taxpayer to receive the notice does not invalidate these proceedings. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 20 conspicuous and public places in the proposed development area not less than 20 days before the hearing. The notice shall state the date, time, and place of the hearing and shall describe the boundaries of the proposed development area. A citizen, taxpayer, or property owner of the municipality or an official from a taxing jurisdiction with millage that would be subject to capture has the right to be heard in regard to the establishment of the authority and the boundaries of the proposed development area. The governing body of the municipality shall not incorporate land into the development area not included in the description contained in the notice of public hearing, but it may eliminate described lands from the development area in the final determination of the boundaries.
(3) Not less than 60 days after the public hearing, if the governing body of the municipality intends to proceed with the establishment of the authority it shall adopt, by majority vote of its members, a resolution establishing the authority and designating the boundaries of the development area within which the authority shall exercise its powers. The adoption of the resolution is subject to any applicable statutory or charter provisions in respect to the approval or disapproval by the chief executive or other officer of the municipality and the adoption of a resolution over his or her veto. This resolution shall be filed with the secretary of state promptly after its adoption and shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality.
(4) The governing body of the municipality may alter or amend the boundaries of the development area to include or exclude lands from the development area in the same manner as adopting the resolution creating the authority.
(5) A municipality that has created an authority may enter into an agreement with an adjoining municipality that has created an authority to jointly operate and administer those authorities under an interlocal agreement under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512. The interlocal agreement shall include, but is not limited to, a plan to coordinate and expedite local inspections and permit approvals, a plan to address contradictory zoning requirements, and a date certain to implement all provisions of these plans. If a municipality enters into an interlocal agreement under this subsection, the municipality shall provide a copy of that interlocal agreement to the state tax commission within 60 days of entering into the interlocal agreement.
Sec. 8. (1) Except as provided in subsection (7) or as otherwise provided in subsection (8), an authority shall be under the supervision and control of a board consisting of the chief executive officer of the municipality or his or her assignee and not less than 5 or more than 9 members as determined by the governing body of the municipality. Members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the municipality, subject to approval by the governing body of the municipality. Not less than a majority of the members shall be persons having an ownership or business interest in property located in the development area. At least 1 of the members shall be a resident of the development area or of an area within 1/2 mile of any part of the development area. Of the members first appointed, an equal number of the members, as near as is practicable, shall be appointed for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years. A member shall hold office until the member’s successor is appointed. After the initial appointment, each member shall serve for a term of 4 years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made by the chief executive officer of the municipality for the unexpired term only. Members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The chairperson of the board shall be elected by the board.
(2) Before assuming the duties of office, a member shall qualify by taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of office.
(3) The proceedings and rules of the board are subject to the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. The board shall adopt rules governing its procedure and the holding of regular meetings, subject to the approval of the governing body. Special meetings may be held if called in the manner provided in the rules of the board.
(4) After having been given notice and an opportunity to be heard, a member of the board may be removed for cause by the governing body.
(5) All expense items of the authority shall be publicized monthly and the financial records shall always be open to the public.
(6) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the board in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(7) If the boundaries of the development area are the same as those of a business improvement district established under 1961 PA 120, MCL 125.981 to 125.990m, the governing body of the municipality may provide that the members of the board of the authority shall be the members of the board of the business improvement district and 1 person shall be a resident of the development area or of an area within 1/2 mile of any part of the development area.
(8) If 2 or more cities, villages, or townships create a joint authority under section 4(2), the board shall consist of up to 3 individuals appointed by the chief executive officer of each city, village, or township that is a member of the joint authority. Each of those individuals shall be appointed for initial staggered terms of 2 years, 3 years, or 4 years. A member shall hold office until the member’s successor is appointed. After the initial appointment, each member shall serve for a term of 4 years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made by the chief executive officer of the city, village, or township for the unexpired term only. Members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The chairperson of the board shall be elected by the board.
This act is ordered to take immediate effect.
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Secretary of the Senate
Approved
Governor