LANSING – State Representative Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) today joined Governor Jennifer M. Granholm as she signed Senate Bill 1182, which gives municipalities more control over how they spend transportation funding, into law. Also on hand at the bill-signing ceremony was Chelsea City Manager Mike Steklac.
"Mike Steklac and other local officials have often said to me that they need more flexibility and discretion in the way road money is spent," said Byrnes, a former Washtenaw County Road Commissioner who introduced House Bill 4853, the bill SB 1182 is based upon. "These officials understand the communities they serve, and they comprehend which road projects are most vital to those communities."
Senate Bill 1182 allows cities and villages to transfer up to 50 percent of major street funds to local street funds with no local match. It also allows transferring 100 percent of funds if the community has an approved Asset Management Program. In addition, the bill establishes a pilot program for communities to combine their local street funds and major street funds.