HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2011.06.09 - 18615MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #11127
BY: Commissioner Shelley G. Taub, District #16
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL 248 TO LIMIT THE
AMOUNT OF STATE-OWNED LAND
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS according to the Department of Natural Resources website, the State of Michigan
currently owns 4,472,175 acres of land; and
WHEREAS although the preservation of natural resources is an important objective, it must be
measured against the State of Michigan's ability to properly maintain the new lands; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan is facing severe financial challenges and is unable to afford to
make the payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) — which local units of government rely upon for
revenue; and
WHEREAS Senate Bill 248 proposes to amend the Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Act (NREPA) to prohibit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from acquiring
surface rights to more than 4.6 million acres of land; and
WHEREAS Senate Bill 248 would require the DNR to consider the expenses it would incur in
managing new land, including payments in lieu of taxes, and the loss of tax revenue to local
governments, before acquiring surface rights; and
WHEREAS Senate Bill 248 would require the DNR to offer tax reverted land for sale and if the
land were not sold within six (6) months, that the DNR would have to offer the land for sale at a
public auction with no minimum bid requirement and sell the property to the highest qualified
bidder; and
WHEREAS exceptions to the restrictions on the acquisition of land would apply to land acquired
by the DNR through gifts, litigation, for conservation easement, right-of-ways and land that was
commercial forestland; and
WHEREAS the Michigan Association of Counties supports the adoption of Senate Bill 248 and
establishing a policy that provides that if the State of Michigan cannot afford to pay its PILT
payments on the land it owns, then it should not exacerbate the potential loss of revenue to
local jurisdictions by making additional land purchases.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners,
hereby proclaim support for the Senate Bill 248 which amends Part 5 of the Natural Resources
and Environmental Protection Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the
Michigan legislature to adopt and Governor Rick Snyder to enact Senate Bill 248.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of
this adopted resolution to Governor Rick Snyder, Senator Tom Casperson, the Oakland County
delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan
Association of Counties and Oakland County's lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Commissioner S' lley G. Taub CommiSsioner
District #16 'District #
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Resolution #11127 June 9, 2011
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.