State Rep. Cam Cavitt gave testimony today in front of the Senate Local Government Committee on his plan to help local communities save money by changing state laws regarding parks and recreation boards.  

“This is a good step toward efficient government,” said Cavitt (R-Cheboygan). “Allowing smaller counties to reduce the size of their parks and recreation boards would help stretch limited resources and direct more funding toward essential services and infrastructure. For many counties in Northeast Michigan, these savings can make a meaningful difference. This bill gives local communities the flexibility to determine what works best for them and manage taxpayer dollars more effectively.” 

House Bill 5317 would allow counties with fewer than 100,000 residents to reduce the number of members on their parks and recreation boards to seven. Currently, state law requires that all parks and recreation boards across Michigan must have 10 members, regardless of the size of the county. By giving smaller counties the option to operate with fewer board members, Cavitt’s plan would help local governments free up resources that could be used for other community needs, including road maintenance and infrastructure repairs. 

Cavitt was joined in committee testimony by Jesse Osmer, Alpena County Administrator and Tina Nowakowski from mParks.