MARQUETTE COUNTY -- There is still no meeting between an Upper Peninsula lawmaker, the State Treasury, and the Marquette County Board. The parties were to be in contact with each other last week concerning a proposed severance tax bill.
The 110th District State Representative, Matt Huuki, is the bill's author. He says the severance tax can replace the current tax structure on mines, like Kennecott's nickel and copper mine.
Huuki says it'll levy less taxes up front for a mining company and allow smaller companies to get into business. However, Marquette County Township officials say the bill amounts to millions of dollars in losses for communities and school districts. Huuki maintains it's revenue neutral, saying it'll even out in the long run.
At last week's Marquette County Board meeting, all parties in the debate were to have a video or teleconference. That has not happened.
The county board went on record last Tuesday opposing the severance tax bill because of the loss of revenue.
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