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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2024.04.24 - 41142 April 24, 2024 RESOLUTION #2024-4070 _ 24-33 Sponsored By: Brendan Johnson, David Woodward Board of Commissioners - Resolution Supporting an Increase in the Governor’s Local Bus Operating FY 2025 Budget Chair and Members of the Board: WHEREAS Local Bus Operating (LBO) funds from the State of Michigan help fund local transit programs that provide benefits to a broad population of residents much needed transportation; and WHEREAS on November 8, 2022, the residents of Oakland County showed their support for public transit, with more than 57% of votes, and approved the Oakland County Public Transportation millage; and WHEREAS transit was a key provision highlighted in the Growing Michigan Together Council’s December 2023 report, which identified ways Michigan could improve its economic competitiveness and attract young talent to the state; and WHEREAS local transit programs maintain residents’ independence and helps them affordably reach critical destinations every day (work, grocery shopping, medical appointments, senior centers, and more); and WHEREAS local transit programs keep residents who are unable to drive active, engaged, and independent in their communities; and WHEREAS when well-integrated into a community, transit options such as buses can combat traffic congestion, reduce pollution, reduce unhealthy inactivity (built-in walking), and spur development; and WHEREAS transit promotes sustainability by allowing for a single vehicle, a bus, to serve many trips at the same time. Increased LBO allows more transit service to be available reducing carbon fuel consumption and greenhouse gas production, which would help meet Michigan’s climate commitments from the MI Healthy Climate Plan; and WHEREAS Act 51 states that the LBO may be funded at up to 60% of state eligible expenses for non-urban transit agencies and up to 50% of state eligible expenses for urban transit agencies. However, Michigan has never fully funded this line item and has fallen short of state-determined need. Non-urban agencies received 34-42% of eligible expenses and urban agencies received just 29-34%; and WHEREAS the Governor’s current proposed FY 2025 budget would provide $40 million less than the current year in LBO, which would be detrimental to local transit programs, resulting in transit agencies struggling to meet existing demands. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Governor of the State of Michigan to increase the Local Bus Operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to minimally maintain FY 2024 funding levels, and optimally fully fund maximum allowable amounts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, the members of the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the members of the Michigan Legislative Transit Caucus, and the Board of Commissioner’s legislative lobbyist. Chair, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Brendan Johnson, David Woodward. Date: April 24, 2024 David Woodward, Commissioner Date: April 29, 2024 Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds COMMITTEE TRACKING 2024-04-24 Full Board - Adopt Motioned by Commissioner Brendan Johnson seconded by Commissioner David Woodward to adopt the attached Resolution: Resolution Supporting an Increase in the Governor’s Local Bus Operating FY 2025 Budget. Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Penny Luebs, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Christine Long, Robert Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor (15) No: None (0) Abstain: None (0) Absent: Ajay Raman, Michael Gingell, Yolanda Smith Charles, William Miller III (4) Passed ATTACHMENTS None STATE OF MICHIGAN) COUNTY OF OAKLAND) I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on April 24, 2024, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac, Michigan on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk / Register of Deeds