This is from today's MLA Advocacy Update. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Libraries are Entitled to 100% Reimbursement of Millages Lost to the Personal Property Tax (PPT) Repeal Many libraries are struggling to get answers about their Personal Property Tax millage reimbursement. The Michigan Department of Treasury, today, assured me there is enough funding in the Local Community Stabilization Authority to reimburse all millages at 100% including libraries. Yes, libraries will be reimbursed. The state of Michigan is reimbursing municipalities and if the city, township or other municipality is your taxing authority, they are required to automatically reimburse the library. District libraries will be reimbursed directly. We are finding that a number of municipalities do not understand that libraries should be included in the efforts. In fact, some are under the impression that only essential services can be reimbursed. If your local governing authority staff are unaware, encourage them to contact the Michigan Department of Treasury. It is important to note that the lowest millage rate levied between 2012 and 2015 will be the amount reimbursed to the library. Librarians and MLA fought long and hard to get libraries included in the PPT reimbursement two years ago. We were able to get libraries included in PA 86 of 2014. It was part of a 10-bill package that provided for reimbursement to those entities being harmed by the elimination of the PPT. Senate Bill 821 took effect when proposal 14-1 State Use Tax - Ballot Issue passed in August of 2014. Thank you to the many MLA members and our Governmental Consultant Services Inc. (GCSI) lobby team who advocated so fervently for libraries on this issue. Gail Madziar Executive Director Michigan Library Association 3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100 Lansing, MI 48911 Direct: 517-492-3824 Fax: 517-394-2675 gmadziar@milibraries.org<mailto:gmadziar@milibraries.org> www.milibraries.org<http://www.milibraries.org/> Follow me on twitter: @MLAExec<https://twitter.com/MLAExec> Registration is now open for MLA 2016 Annual Conference. Join us October 26-28 at the Lansing Center. See you there! Register<http://members.mla.lib.mi.us/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/events/register.html?Action=Register&ConfID_W=177> More information<http://www.milibraries.org/prof-development-networking/annual-conference/info/> Join the conversation: #MLA16AC Connect with us on Twitter<https://twitter.com/MLAoffice> & Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MichiganLibraryAssociation/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel> [cid:image001.png@01D1B69B.94CE7700]
