LANSING (AP) -- Legislation that will allow county boards of commissioners to take over duties of county road commissions is expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Snyder is scheduled to sign the legislation Tuesday at the state Capitol. The bills were approved by the Michigan Legislature earlier this month.
Supporters say the measures would save money by eliminating duplicative administrative costs.
Appointed county road commissions could be dissolved by a majority vote of a county's board of commissioners. Voters would have the final decision on whether to dissolve road commissions in counties where road commissioners are elected.
Some critics say a vote of the people should be required in all counties because each road commission was created by such a vote, not just those with elected commissioners.
State Representative Jon Switalski of Warren sponsored the bills that would make it easier for counties to dissolve their road commissions. Any savings could go towards fixing streets.
Rep. Switalski says, "In the county where I come from which is a county of almost a million people, we saved $400,000 eliminating the road commissioners. Smaller counties are going to save a smaller amount."
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission's five appointed members cost the county about $80,000 a year in salaries and benefits.
Grand Traverse County Road Commission Chairman , Marc Kellar argues that any savings would be too small to make a real impact. "There's a lot being said and kicked around about how much is being saved its miniscule if anything at all," said Kellar.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
