Gearing up for the Mackinac Policy Conference

As business and government leaders prepare to descend on Mackinac Island for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Policy Conference, I wanted to share with you some of my administration’s positions on legislative matters and economic development.

Unfunded Mandates

First, as I alluded to in my State of the County address, Wayne County is burdened with the financial costs of unfunded mandates passed onto the county by the State of Michigan. These unfunded mandates are not simply laws and regulations that Wayne County must enforce, but it is also the administration of state courts and other state services that fall within the county’s boundaries. The most glaring example of an unfunded mandate is Michigan’s 3^rd Circuit Court which Wayne County must pay for out of its budget. There is even proposed legislation that would force the county to bear the cost of administrating local elections, something typically funded at the local level. These unfunded mandates must stop, especially those that place a burden on our correctional system, which already eats up more than 70% of the county’s general fund budget.

Wayne County has been an active supporter of legislation to remedy the problem of unfunded mandates, but the solution to this problem goes well beyond changing the state law. While my administration has worked to cut costs and do more with less, the State of Michigan has failed to reduce the cost of state government while reducing revenue-sharing and keeping more tax dollars in Lansing. Wayne County taxpayers deserve a leaner state government, and more of their tax dollars need to stay here in Wayne County. Without major changes to address unfunded mandates, the County will have less money to help stimulate our economy.

Next Michigan Development Act & Aerotropolis

One method of reducing the cost of correctional services is to create economic opportunities for the unemployed. Wayne County, Washtenaw County, business and labor leaders, and government leaders from Oakland County, Detroit, and Grand Rapids have put their support behind the Next Michigan Development Act, a package of bills that will create jobs by leveraging our state’s strategic transportation assets. The Next Michigan Development Act legislation passed the State House of Representative in December but, like many other pieces of legislation designed to spur economic growth, the bills await action by the Michigan Senate.

The adoption of the Next Michigan Development Act is crucial to moving the Detroit Region Aerotropolis forward and creating jobs for residents of southeast Michigan. As we watch other regions move forward with their aerotropolis efforts, our state has failed to act with a sense of urgency in supporting this legislation and the Aerotropolis. Furthermore, legislation has been introduced at the federal level that would make the Detroit Region Aerotropolis eligible for federal transportation funds.

Our state must show that it is serious about the Aerotropolis. Just as our state leaders took aggressive action to support the film industry and battery industry, yielding thousands of jobs for State of Michigan and Wayne County residents, they must act with the same sense of urgency when it comes to Aerotropolis. I again ask that Senate leadership adopt the Next Michigan Development Act and move our state economy forward.

Creation of a Regional Transit Authority

If the downturn in our economy has taught us anything, it’s that we must work as a region to build common economic assets. Wayne County has been a leading supporter of legislation that would create a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for our region. Introduced in late December, these bills were recently passed out of committee in the Michigan House, and await approval by the full House and the Michigan Senate. Given that every dollar invested in transit yields $7 – $8 in economic activity, the creation of a regional transit authority is crucial to building a robust and efficient system for our region.

The creation of a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is particularly important given the priorities of the Obama administration. We must be in a strong position to take advantage of federal transportation funding for mass transit, and we must find a way to come up with matching funds to obtain federal transportation dollars. By institutionalizing ourselves on a regional level, we can build a system that works for all citizens and drives economic growth. I ask that our state’s leaders quickly adopt this long overdue legislation.

Supporting Detroit

Finally, Wayne County has also been supportive of efforts to redevelop and revitalize land in the City of Detroit. Using federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, Wayne County is in the process of demolishing 450 blighted structures and homes within Detroit’s boundaries. Working with local faith-based leaders, this project is designed to remove these threats from our neighborhoods and accelerate redevelopment of land in the city for productive economic use including urban farming. Wayne County will continue to offer resources and assistance to Mayor Bing and the City of Detroit as it implements a comprehensive plan for land use.

Summary

My administration will push our state’s business and government leaders to address these policies during the Mackinac Policy Conference. These are common sense ideas that are critical to the economy of our state and Wayne County. We must act with a sense of urgency when it comes to adopting legislation that brings predictability to Wayne County’s budget, that creates jobs for our citizens, and that gives our region greater control over its economic destiny. I look forward to sharing good news about our efforts in future newsletters.

Robert A. Ficano is Wayne County’s Chief Executive