State Representative Bill G. Schuette on Thursday spoke before the House Government Operations Committee on his plan that helps alleviate costs for hardworking families and communities in Midland and Gladwin counties.

Currently, state lands like those owned by the Department of Natural Resources are exempt from special assessments, such as drain assessments, unless noted otherwise. This exemption ultimately shifts the financial burden onto property owners, communities or counties.

Schuette’s plan, House Bill 4118, allows county drain commissioners to apply drain assessments to DNR-managed property the same way they would to private property or other state property. Schuette noted Michigan Department of Transportation property can currently be assessed, and the legislation provides uniformity with what falls under the DNR.

“This is an issue I hear about frequently from residents and townships I represent in the Michigan House,” Schuette said. “This legislation provides commonsense reforms for when infrastructure needs maintenance and it falls almost entirely on DNR property. Those few homeowners or farmers nearby are expected to bear the brunt of the extraordinary cost associated with the repairs due to current DNR exemptions. The governor proposed over $80 billion in state spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The state shouldn’t be nickel and diming people for repairs on DNR land.”

HB 4118 remains under consideration in the House Government Operations Committee.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Representative Bill G. Schuette testifies on House Bill 4118 before the House Government Operations Committee on Thursday, March 13.