Michigan library workers –

 

Today…before 1:30pm when the Michigan House of Representatives goes into session, we are asking each of you to contact your state representative by phone and state your opposition to the package of bills – HR4530-4533 which reduces the number of elections that can be held each year from three to two.  For background, see the call to action that was sent out yesterday (copied below).

 

Here is a link to find your state representative: https://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/frmFindaRep.aspx

 

Debbie

 

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Deborah E. Mikula

Executive Director

Michigan Library Association

3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100

Lansing, MI 48911

Office: 517-394-2774, ext. 224

Cell: 517-404-3533

dmikula@milibraries.org

www.milibraries.org

 

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From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Rachel Ash via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Reply-To: Rachel Ash <rfash@milibraries.org>
Date: Monday, April 26, 2021 at 12:24 PM
To: "michlib-l@mcls.org" <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Call to Action: Libraries need three millage election dates. Please contact your Michigan House members today.

 

 

MLA stands in opposition to HB 4530-4533 and ANY legislation limiting election dates.

 

 

 

Call to Action: MLA Opposes HB 4530-4533

 

Call to Action: MLA stands in Opposition to HB 4530-4533 and ANY legislation limiting election dates. We will continue to monitor and respond to any legislation that would limit library millage proposals. Read on for details then Take Action and contact your legislators today!

 

On Tuesday, March 23, a package of bills, HB 4530-4533 was presented at the House Elections and Ethics Committee. HB 4530-4533 eliminates the May and August elections and replaces them with a June election.

 

House Bills 4530-4533 would amend different acts to remove the May regular election date and move the date of the primary election in Michigan from August to June, limiting a jurisdiction to holding only two elections in a year.

 

Libraries rely on locally dedicated millages for funding. A millage loss could very well close the doors permanently for a library, so alternative dates to re-present their proposal to their community during the calendar year are essential. Additional restrictions to the number of times each year that a millage can be brought before voters are detrimental to libraries. Read MLA's Statement in Opposition to Any Restrictions to Millage Dates by the Michigan Legislature

 

The most recent modifications to the state’s election dates are the 2015 Public Acts 98 -103, which eliminated the February election date. Since 2015, only May, August, and November have remained.

 

Currently, under the law, the primary election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. HBs 4530 - 4533 would move that election date to the Tuesday after the first Monday in June. They would also eliminate the May regular election.

 

Legislators need to hear from us about why it is important to keep three election dates to allow libraries more flexibility in seeking millages. Please contact your House members today to tell them that libraries need three millage election dates. Ask them to oppose HB 4530-4533 and ANY legislation that limits election dates and hurts a library's ability to seek funding.

 

Click Take Action to visit our website and contact your legislator. We’ve created a template email for you that you can modify to share your concerns or send as-is. Thank you for taking action to support libraries!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Ash
Membership and Communications Director
Michigan Library Association
3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100
Lansing, MI 48911
Phone: (517) 394-2774 ext. 225
milibraries.org
rfash@milibraries.org

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