2021

Karoub Associates issued a lengthy December 2021 Karoub Report detailing a slew of end of year appropriations bills among other legislation that passed in either one or both legislative chambers. Lawmakers passed a $1.484 billion supplemental appropriations bill Dec. 14 containing $1 billion General Fund for the state to use to incentivize companies to choose Michigan for locating large economic development projects. Aside from non-voting sessions, the Legislature has concluded all business until it reconvenes Jan. 12, 2022. SB 85 passed both chambers. It contains an additional $484 million gross, which provided $409 million federal funding in aid for businesses impacted by the pandemic and $75 million General Fund to raise the floor on the personal property tax exemption. A nearly $1 billion wide-ranging year-end supplemental appropriations bill that would fund COVID-19 testing, mental health services and much more passed the House. HB 4398, which was adopted by a conference committee, passed the House 94-9 and the Senate 35-1. HB 5523 also passed the House in a 98-4 vote with only Republicans voting against the bill: Steve Johnson of Wayland, Steve Carra of Three Rivers, John Reilly of Oakland Township and Matt Maddock of Milford. The appropriations bill was cut down from its initial $1.2 billion amount due to funding dedicated to epidemiology and lab capacity school safety being halved from $300 million to $150 million. The remaining $150 million was added into the yearend supplemental to expedite getting funds out the door. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services expects $400 auto insurance refunds per vehicle to go out to Michigan drivers by May 9, 2022. The state's minimum wage rate will increase from $9.65 to $9.87 Jan. 1, 2022. Citing the pandemic and the rise in inflation due to federal response to the pandemic's economic fallout, Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) introduced SB 768, which would lower the personal and corporate income tax rates to 3.9 percent, effective tax years beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The current state personal income tax rate is 4.25 percent and 6 percent for the state corporate income tax rate.

Please click here for the December 2021 Karoub Report for complete details.

Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) represented fire departments are hosting events during September and October in honor of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3 - 9, 2021. Fire Prevention Week is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of Oct. 8 - 9, 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This year’s National Fire Prevention Week theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” Visit National Fire Protection Association's website for fire safety prevention tips.

Local Fire Prevention public events include:

• Burton Fire Department Open House
  Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Oct. 9, 2021 
  Location: All three city fire stations:
  Burton Fire Station 1 – 2031 East Bristol Rd. Burton, MI 48509
  Burton Fire Station 2 – Department Headquarters, 1320 S. Belsay Rd., Burton, MI 48509
  Burton Fire Station 3 – 4515 Davison Rd. Burton, MI 48509
  Contact: (810) 742-2158 
  Enjoy free hot dogs, chips, water, handouts and activities for children, including face painting and balloon animals. Meet firefighters and tour the stations and trucks. Residents can sign up free smoke detector installs and reflective address signs will be available to order. A simulated house will allow children to use a fire hose to knock down flames.
• Chelsea Area Fire Authority Open House
  Time: Noon – 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021
  Location: 200 W. Middle St., Chelsea, MI 48118
  Contact: (734) 475-8755
  The event will feature a smoke house with a video playing inside for children to watch and teaches them how to crawl and get out of the house safely. Also featured are bounce houses, a petting zoo, extrication equipment, spray fire hose and a small burn house, face painting, balloon animals, cookies, doughnuts, popcorn, cider and hot chocolate. The Chelsea Police Department, Red Cross and H.A.R.T. (Helping Area Response Teams), which provides food and rehabilitation services to emergency response teams, will be featured at the event. 
• Chelsea Area Fire Authority Fire Safety for Children
  Time: Week of Oct. 3 - 9, 2021 National Fire Prevention Week
  Location: Area schools, daycares and churches as requested.
  Contact: Capt. Scott Basar at (734) 475-8755 to schedule a presentation.
  Fire safety presentation is geared toward children, with handouts and coloring books about fire safety & prevention. The instruction will include Stop, Drop & Roll; how to recognize smoke in house; having an outdoor family meeting place; navigating cell phones for emergency use; not looking for pets; opening or breaking windows and throwing stuffed animals outside to locate trapped individuals; placing blankets in front of cracks of door; and not hiding during fires. Others interested in scheduling an event at their location should call the phone number listed above. 
• Clay Township Fire Department Fire Safety for Schools
  Time: Oct. 5 - 31, 2021
  Location: Area Elementary Schools
  Contact: (810) 794-9347
  The fire department will come out to local elementary schools with their Fire Safety Smoke Trailer to provide a hands on fire safety experience. Fire fighters will demonstrate and discuss fire safety with the students and show them a video inside the smoke trailer. After instruction, they smoke up the trailer and the students practice safe fire escape through the windows and door. Students will also receive safety materials and coloring books.

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Chelsea Area Fire Authority has posted an open position for fire fighter. 

Applicants must apply and provide all documentation by Oct. 7. 

Click here for complete application details.

Do you know a MAFF member who has gone above and beyond the line of duty during the past year?

MAFF members are encouraged to recognize the extraordinary service of fellow Union members by nominating them for the 2021 MAFF Fire Fighter of the Year Award before the Oct. 1st deadline.

The Fire Fighter selected to receive this award will be honored at the MAP Executive Board Meeting in December 2021. 

Click here to download the nomination form with more information.