Title
Resolution to Encourage Support to Fund the Fire Protection Grant Program
Body
Whereas, More than twenty cities in the State of Michigan provide fire protection services to State-owned institutions located in or near their communities;
Whereas, The local communities reliably provide those fire protection services to serve State government institutions at the primary expense of the local taxpayers;
Whereas, Act 289 of 1977 (Payment for Fire Protection Services to Municipalities) provides a funding formula that the State of Michigan will use to compensate local communities for the expense of those fire protection services and that formula has been consistently under funded;
Whereas, The State of Michigan has increased the funds available to Fire Protection Grants, but funding is still less than that prescribed by the State's formula;
Whereas, Full funding of Fire Protection Grants could be accomplished with little impact on the State's total budget;
Whereas, Many of the State institutions protected by local fire services are public universities housing young people from all areas of the State of Michigan; and
Whereas, Local governments that provide these fire services are under great financial duress, facing the prospects of cutting other local services while still providing services to State-owned institutions;
RESOLVED, That Governor Granholm and our city's representatives in the Legislature are strongly encouraged to look positively and creatively at available means to fully fund the Fire Protection Grant program in the next budget.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers M. Higgins, L. Greden