(WWJ) -- Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is backing two proposals in Lansing that would help alleviate the backlog of appointments at branches across the state.
Many Michgianders statewide have complained they can’t find an open appointment for two or three months, as branches face the backlog, which Benson says is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation would utilize $25 million in COVID relief funds to hire 200 additional workers and authorize 70,000 hours of overtime needed to alleviate the appointment crunch.
If the legislation is approved in Lansing, the spending would add an estimated 500,000 appointment slots between July and September, officials say.
“The path forward is clear: increase the number of appointments available so they are abundant and easy to schedule, and reduce the need for residents to visit our offices at all,” Benson said. That’s where we’re headed.”
Benson says cancellations of license renewals for more than a year during the pandemic is the primary reason for the backlog.
As Benson has been under fire for the issue statewide, she says the legislation would help get branch offices back on track.
“Despite partisan politicians trying to ignore the data and deceive the public to get headlines and score points with their party leadership, the truth is that even with this backlog, residents can schedule their visit the day beforehand, get an email with all the documents they will need to bring and have a smooth, efficient experience,” Benson said.
Benson also says the appointment-only structure had been popular with Michiganders prior to the pandemic.