Someone Gets It!

In an earlier post entitled "spending money to make money" i said that we need to begin investing in our communities if we want to grow our economy. That's what the Michigan Municipal League believes we ought to be doing. They've asked the state to fulfill its end of a long-standing partnership in making sure that essential services provided at the local level....those services that help to provide a high quality of life in our hometowns -- gets properly funded. Well folks at the Detroit Free Press are listening. This editorial pretty much says it all when it comes to why investing in communities is the key to attracting, retaining and growing jobs in our state.

The One Clear Voice

Understanding your target market is pretty important. Doesn't make a difference whether you're selling a product or implementing public policy. That's why those who make decisions need to get that in just a few short years the largest demographic in this country will be millenials. That's right, baby boomers will be in second place by 2010. And millenials, which include the former gen x and gen y are looking for places to live first before they look for a job. Quite a change from a generation ago. That means we better have great places for them to live and why its important that local, state and federal officials begin targeting policies and programs to attract this group. And there's one group in Michigan fighting for policy makers to get it right... the Michigan Municipal League. The folks at this non-profit association, which represents communities across the state, is focused on spreading the word that investing in communities is at the heart of any economic development startegy, whether it be at the state or national level. From advocacy in the halls of state, federal or judicial power to new programs such as its Community Design and Education Center, the League is leading the way.

Election year politics

Well it seems as if some of our state politicians have swung in to full election mode. Just last week, the House Republicans announced they'd like to repeal the state income tax increase enacted last year to help address the state's $1 billion budget deficit. This comes on the heels of their pronouncements during the recent budget discussions in Lansing that those revenue sharing funds i talked about earlier -- you know the money that goes back to locals to help provide essential services such as police and fire -- should be increased more than what's proposed in the budget. What a bunch of hypocrites, wanting to have their cake and eat it too. The fact of the matter is that this state has cut taxes for a decade and did it work to turn the economy around, NO! Do we have the lowest unemployment rate in the country because of all those new jobs the tax cuts created, NO! What the policy did lead to was $3 billion less in revenue sharing and cuts in local police and fire, closed parks and libraries, less services to seniors and familes, I could go on and on about how those tax cuts actually led to lowering our standard of living in our state. Now no one and I mean one likes to pay taxes, but someone once said that taxes are the price we pay for a civil society. So, if you're tired of the harangue from those who live in their own little world and still believe that more tax cuts will lead us to economic nirvana, check out this site. It provides an alternative view backed up with facts about Michigan's tax structure, its burden on me and you and what those taxes help to fund.

Spending money to make money

Its an old advertising and investment adage... if you want to make some money, you have to spend it. The worst thing a failing business can do is cut back on their advertising budget. It's the same with how public dollars are spent. First find out what's going to give you your biggest bang for the buck, and then invest. Over the years, this has meant funding for infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water and sewer lines. And we all know how that's holding up now. While I'll discuss that in later posts, today I want to talk about the need to invest in our communities. Years ago, the state made a deal with communities across Michigan.... we're going to restrict your ability to raise taxes locally and in return we'll share back some portion of state taxes. This is not uncommon in other states. States don't want a hodgepodge of taxes and tax rates in their communities and so they share some portion of state revenue with them to make up for it. In Michigan, we call it "revenue sharing". Its a deal that was first put in place in the 1930's. Unfortunately for the past several years, the state has been cutting that amount to make up for other holes in the budget. Locals and their taxpayers have been shortchanged to date by some $3 billion! A good reason as to why there are less police officers and fire fighters on the street than there were on 9-11. A good reason why other quality of life services such as recreation programs, parks and libraries have been dropped or closed the last several years. Well, there's at least one group that's fighting for the state to do the right thing. The Michigan Municipal League, a statewide association that represents cities, villages and even some of the larger townships is asking the state to keep its promise and begin funding communities so they can provide the services that will maintain the high quality of life we've enjoyed in our state over the years.

Catching Up

Now we all know that Michigan has some work to do to improve our economy. And the group Michigan Future has some ideas on how to get that done.....attract young professionals age 25-34. According to Crains, they'll soon be publishing a report showing how where there are clusters of this particular group, economic activity is occuring and communities are thriving. And not just in places like Phoenix, Atlanta or San Francisco, but right in our backyard in places like Madison, Minneapolis and Chicago. So if these bad weather, cold midwestern cities can get it done so can we! That's why its time for a new agenda, one that invests in our communities and allows them to provide the kinds of services and amenities that provide a high quality of life that will attract and retain businesses and residents alike.

Get Moving

The Detroit Free Press's Jeff Gerritt is on a mission...a mission to inform and influence public policy that cities matter and that state and federal policy has been leaving them in the dust for the past 30 years or more. Once a month he's been writing about issues that affect cities, informative and challenging pieces www.freep.com/cities. This time around he takes off on transportation policy. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/OPINION01/804130588/1069 Look, its pretty simple. Our infrastructure (roads and bridges, water and sewer lines) is falling apart. On top of that its clear that those cities and regions across the country that are doing well have made a commitment to public transportation.... to the idea that in order to be economically successful you have to understand the premise that its important to move people around from home to work to play and back home again and that building another highway to do it is not an efficient way to get it done.