LANSING – State Representatives Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) and Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) today announced that lawmakers passed a change in the current fiscal year budget as a way to protect heavily trafficked Secretary of State branch locations in Washtenaw County and Saginaw County from planned closures. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recently announced that she will close branches in Milan, which is in Angerer's district, and Buena Vista Township, located in Coulouris' district.
"Keeping the heavily used Milan location open is more than a matter of convenience for residents who travel to the branch from Monroe, Wayne, Washtenaw and Lenawee counties," Angerer said. "We are on the grow in Milan, and the branch draws people to the shops in the downtown area. Secretary Land's decision would be devastating to Milan's businesses. At a time when Michigan ought to be investing in its cities, we are disinvesting in Milan, Michigan."
The House on Wednesday approved a plan sponsored by Angerer and Coulouris that changes the way the budget for the Secretary of State is dispersed. The agency's budget is currently contained in a single line item. Under the change, funding for each branch will be allocated separately, which means that if Secretary Land chooses to close one branch, funds would not be transferable to another location.
"Buena Vista Township is one of the most economically depressed areas in Michigan, with a poverty rate that is nearly double that of the state," Coulouris said. "We are used to businesses turning their backs on us. We are not used to the most basic state services being withdrawn from the community. These branch offices handle far more than license renewal services and vehicle registration – they are places to register to vote and obtain state identification cards. Secretary Land's plan to close the Buena Vista Township branch would deny fair and equal access to important state services."
A spokesman for the state Department of Civil Rights said the agency is aware of the controversy over the closure of the Buena Vista Township branch, and is exploring potential involvement.
Earlier in the day, Angerer and Coulouris took their case to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Investigations. They
were joined by dozens of residents from affected communities who traveled to the Capitol to call on Secretary Land to
reverse her decision.
The legislation now heads to the Senate.