Michigan close to boosting pay, mileage rate for jurors

Michigan residents who serve as jurors could get a pay raise and a higher mileage reimbursement rate starting next year.
 
     The state House unanimously sent Gov. Rick Snyder legislation Tuesday requiring that jurors be paid $30 for their first full day instead of $25. They would get $45 for each subsequent day, above the current $40 rate.
 
     Mileage reimbursement would double to 20 cents a mile.
 
     The proposed pay increases - the first since 2003 - would begin next April as long as a state juror fund has more than $2 million. It had a $10.5 million balance last fiscal year.
 
     The bills' supporters say while compensation isn't intended to reimburse jurors for all out-of-pocket expenses, it should at least cover parking and lunch.