Saturday, November 29, 2008

Secretary of State Initiates News Services for Deaf. This week, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land kicked off a pilot program that will offer free sign language services for the deaf at selected branch offices across the state. "It's like a three-way video conference call using both sign language and the spoken word," said Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for Land. "A video monitor uses cameras and an audio system, which connects the customer to a sign interpreter at one of 13 Communication Access Centers across Michigan. The customer signs their service need to the interpreter, who then explains it to our employee, who is listening in on a set of headphones. "Our employee answers the interpreter via a microphone in the monitor. The interpreter then signs the answer to the customer, who is watching the video screen. This new system -- which is the first of its kind in any department of motor vehicles in the United States -- is faster, easier and a more efficient way of helping our customers who are deaf." According to the CAC, about 10 percent of Michigan's population is deaf or hard of hearing, and more than 85,000 residents use sign language as their primary means of communication. Helping the deaf The sign language video service is available at the following Secretary of State branch offices: The Flint area Super!Center, 5512 Fenton Road Clinton Township Super!Center, 37015 S. Gratiot Detroit New Center Super!Center, Cadillac Place, 3046 W. Grand Blvd. Grand Rapids area Super!Center, Centerpointe Mall, 3665 28th St. S.E. Grand Traverse County PLUS Office, 1759 Barlow, Traverse City Lansing area PLUS Office, 5827 W. Saginaw Livonia area Super!Center, 17176 Farmington Road Muskegon Secretary of State Office, 1485 E. Apple Ave. Northwest Berrien County PLUS Office, 1960 Mall Drive, Benton Harbor Oakland County Super!Center For the full article, see Tom Greenwood, "Secretary of State gives help to deaf; Sign language offered at select branch offices", Detroit News, Novmeber 26, 2008. [Red Tape Blog] 4:11:21 PM     Declining Property Taxes Create Hardships for Michigan Local Governments. With Michigan having one of the highest unemployment rates and foreclosure rates in the country, local governments face declining tax revenues that will likely force cuts in service and increases in fees, says Tom Dickson of the Michigan Association of Counties. The problem is that as foreclosures spread, the empty houses and declining property values hit local governments hard because they rely on property taxes for about 60 percent of their budgets. Most counties, Dickson said, could see as large a cut in tax revenues as 20 percent this year alone, leaving them struggling to address everything from basic services to bond payments. Dickson said many of the services offered by counties are mandated by state and federal law. Some of those services include circuit courts, county jails, law enforcement, and human services. He said some jurisdictions might consider supplementing their budgets with increases in fees, but state law mandates that fees can only cover the costs associated with the fee. County governments are not the only taxing authorities impacted by slumping real estate values and the foreclosure crisis. Cities, intermediate school districts, local economic corporations, community colleges, public transportation and other entities all rely on tax levies to operate, Dickson noted. And even state education funds are not spared from the crisis, although the impact will be small, said Terry Stanton, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Treasury. For the full article, see Todd A. Heywood, "Economic crisis hitting local governments", Michigan Messenger, November 26, 2008. [Red Tape Blog] 3:45:49 PM     Upcoming Events at HPL Tax Talks December 2, 2008 6:30-7:30 pm in the Julia Hackley Room at Hackley Public Library Tax Talks December 9, 2008 6:30-7:30 pm in the Julia Hackley room at Hackley Public Library Hackley Library Board Meeting December 16 5:30 pm Julia Hackley Room, Hackley Public Library. Open to the public. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 222 Tax Talks December 16, 2008 1:30 - 2:30 pm in the Julia Hackley Room at Hackley Public Library 3:41:37 PM

© Copyright 2008 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 12/2/2008; 6:40:36 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien