The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)

Archive for February, 2025

Legislative Update 2-28-25

Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

MAC sees hopeful signs in Whitmer remarks on infrastructure, cooperation

The focus on infrastructure and bipartisanship in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2025 State of the State address this week drew praise from Michigan counties.

“We look forward to being a partner in the governor’s road discussion to ensure more money is coming to county roads. As the governor said tonight, ‘Let’s get back to the negotiating table in the coming days and weeks to find a long-term, bipartisan solution so we can fix more of those damn roads,’” said MAC Board President Melissa Daub, a Wayne County commissioner, in a statement released Wednesday night.

Also notable were the governor’s comments on efforts to attract and retain businesses and talent in Michigan, alongside increased funding and advocacy for men to pursue higher education and trade school opportunities through initiatives like the Michigan Reconnect program. Additionally, she voiced strong support for enhanced transparency in the state’s budget process, proposing that legislators publicly disclose their financial requests for their respective districts.

Although local and county government issues were not a major focal point of her address, the spirit of collaboration present in this legislative session, as reflected in the adoption of much-needed and MAC-supported changes in state law on the minimum wage and employee sick time rules, there is growing optimism for significant policy accomplishments in Lansing in 2025.

For details on MAC’s 2025 legislative priorities, click here.

For general information on MAC’s 2025 advocacy work, visit micounties.org or contact Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Podcast 83 reviews sick time, MIDC legislation

Counties have new rules to contend with on sick time for employees, plus they may face accounting changes on state funding for indigent defense, explained MAC’s Podcast 83 team in its newest episode this week.

Beating a Feb. 21 deadline, the Legislature adopted substantial changes to state law on minimum wage and sick time rules. MAC’s Deena Bosworth explained the big news for counties is on sick time:

“A lot of (the sick time) debate was centered around the accrual method. How do they earn it? Who gets how many hours? What does it look like if we also offer vacation pay?

“Larger employers ― so every county ― have to give their employees 72 hours of paid sick time every year. Now, you can opt to front load it, so you can give them 72 hours right now, at the beginning of the year, and they can use it. But then they can’t carry it over, and you’re not obligated to pay it out,” Bosworth said.

“Or you can use the accrual method, which is, you earn one hour for every 30 hours worked, but then you will have the obligation of allowing carry forward and may end up paying it out at the end of the year. But it does give a lot more flexibility, especially for those employers and counties who combine paid time off and vacation time together.”

Meanwhile, the Legislature has begun work on bills that could alter how counties receive funds to provide indigent defense in local trial courts.

“(This legislation) is going to expand the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC),” said MAC’s new governmental affairs specialist, Jimmy Johnson. “In particular, it’s going to be requiring that they include indigent youth. …

“Another aspect of this legislation is that it would change the disbursement the counties are seeing right now through the MIDC. So, if you’re not familiar with it, there is a 50 percent payment, then a 25 percent and an additional 25 percent to get them to the 100,” he added. “What this bill would do is it would give them a 40 percent disbursement and then three subsequent 20 percent payments. … (W)e want to see that same disbursement stay in place of the 50 percent and then the two 25 percent amounts, just to ensure that our counties know exactly how the money is going to be coming in, and they’re not going to have to make any changes.”

Podcast host Stephan Currie closed this week’s episode with a preview of MAC’s Legislative Conference, set for April 7-9 in Lansing:

“We have a great line up there. We’ve got the governor somewhat confirmed as a speaker. … We’re going to have the executive director of National Association of Counties, Matt Chase, talking about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. … We will have some discussion on road funding and how far a dollar actually goes now in fixing our roads. And we’ve invited the Legislative Quadrant (top leaders) to come speak.”

To view the full episode, recorded on Feb. 25, click here.

Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.

And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.

 

MAC’s 2025 Member Directory arrives

County commissioners and other county leaders across Michigan should be receiving an important document in their mailboxes this week: the 2025 MAC Membership Directory.

The annual document, with more than 140 pages of information, is mailed free of charge to:

  • County commissioners
  • County administrators
  • County board offices
  • Countywide elected officials

As usual, the directory includes:

  • Listings of elected officials in each of Michigan’s 83 counties
  • Listings of members of the Michigan Legislature and the state’s delegation in the U.S. Congress
  • Background material on MAC’s advocacy activities
  • A brief history of county government in Michigan

The digital version of the directory will be linked to MAC’s website, with access credentials to be found on Table of Contents page of printed editions.

For corrections or updates to the digital edition, please contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

 

Rose joins MAC governmental affairs staff

Legan Rose, a native of Holly, Michigan, and a Michigan State University grad, has joined MAC as a governmental affairs associate.

In that role, Legan serves as the hub for MAC’s internal policy committee process and helps with scheduling for MAC’s advocacy staffers.

Legan spent the last few years working in the Michigan House of Representatives, both as a legislative aide for a representative and for the Office of the Clerk as a committee clerk, thereby gaining experience on both the partisan and nonpartisan sides of the Legislature.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from MSU in 2020 in political theory and constitutional democracy, with a minor in political economy.

 

Southwest Michigan counties can apply for aid on housing, econ development 

Counties that have cities within 100 miles of South Bend, Indiana, have an opportunity to apply for resources to help create walkable neighborhoods, spur economic growth through the built environment and address the housing crisis.

The University of Notre Dame School of Architecture’s Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative is seeking applications from municipalities (cities or counties) in Northern Indiana, Southwest Michigan and Northeast Illinois interested in engaging the services of the ND-HCR to conduct a Dean’s Charrette and joining our 100-Mile Coalition. This coalition brings together a group of cities and nonprofits within a 100-mile radius of the University of Notre Dame who are working to address shared issues relating to the built environment.

Deadline for submission is Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. EST. 

Dean’s Charrettes are interactive community engagement processes that result in a vision and action plan for a focus area of a community. The work provides integrated solutions that address a range of potential goals including, but not limited to:  

  • Creating human-scale, walkable communities
  • Establishing a vibrant public realm
  • Seeding development to attract investment and retain talent
  • Repairing/infilling abandoned, vacant, and underutilized properties
  • Reducing critical housing shortages
  • Repairing outdated transportation infrastructure that suppresses economic growth
  • Encouraging community regeneration while mitigating displacement
  • Strategies for implementing mixed-use and mixed-income housing solutions
  • Improving health outcomes for residents

Since the inception of the program in January 2021, partner cities have secured over $100 million in state and federal funding based on the concepts developed through the Dean’s Charrette process. Click here for example deliverables from current partner cities.

For more information, contact Angelica Ketcham at aketcham@nd.edu.

 

Legislative Update 2-21-25

Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Legislature sends Minimum Wage and Earned Sick Time Act bills to governor

The Michigan Legislature has officially passed House Bill 4002, amending the existing Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA).  The bill is tie-barred to SB 8, which amends the Improved Workforce opportunity Act (minimum wage law). Both bills were acted upon this week and have been presented to the governor for her signature. The debate went right up to the last day before the current acts scheduled implementation on Friday, February 21st. With negotiations finalized in the eleventh hour, the House and Senate reached a compromise that significantly alters ESTA’s provisions and preserves the tipped credit system for tipped workers’ wages.

SB 8, by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-Macomb), incrementally increases the minimum wage from $12.48 per hour starting Feb. 21, 2025, and goes up each January until it reaches $15 per hour in 2027. For tipped workers, the minimum wage will be 38 percent of the regular minimum wage for 2025 and incrementally increase until they are paid 50 percent of the minimum wage in January 2031. 

The ESTA bill, by Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-St. Clair), changed significantly before heading to the governor.  The bill redefines small employer to mean an employer with 10 or fewer employees.  Their obligations under this bill will require them to provide to their employees 40 hours of paid earned sick time starting Oct. 1, 2025. These employees will be allowed to carry over up to 40 hours of unused time from year to year.  All other employers with 11 or more employees will be required to provide their employees with 72 hours of paid earned sick time and allow them to carry over unused hours up to 72. 

Employers will have two options of granting their employees earned sick time, either by the accrual method of one hour earned for every 30 worked, or by frontloading the entire time at the beginning of the year. However, if an employer opts to frontload the hours, they may do so immediately but will not be required to allow carryover of the hours or pay out unused sick time at the end of the year. 

Seasonal employees cannot use sick time within 120 days of hire, unless the employer opts to front load the hours as opposed to using the accrual method. For those employees that are rehired within two months, they will be allowed to recoup previously accrued time, but those rehired after two months start fresh on sick time accrual.

Other exemptions from the paid leave act include variable hour employees, unpaid trainees and interns and those youth working under a work permit. 

Employers may frontload sick time for part-time employees but must do so proportionally based on an initial estimated workload, but if the part-time employee exceeds the work hour estimate, then employers must grant them the same as other employees, that is one hour per 30 hours worked.

For employee’s usage of the sick time, they must notify the employer at least seven days prior for foreseeable usage of the time and as soon as practicable or follow the employer’s written sick time policy, for unforeseen sick time, provided the policy allows notice after the employee becomes aware of the need.

Many counties combine sick time and vacation time. This may continue, but there are parameters around it. The first 72 hours of paid time off are subject to ESTA conditions. Any additional leave beyond 72 hours can be used according to employer-defined PTO or vacation policies. 

If the employee is a subject of a collective bargaining agreement, the existing employer contract will remain valid for up to three years from enactment of this law, even if it conflicts with ESTA.

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

MAC welcomes new governmental affairs specialist

MAC is pleased to announce James Johnson has joined the Governmental Affairs staff as a governmental affairs specialist.  James comes to us with a wealth of experience in the Legislature, having spent the past six years working in the Michigan House of Representatives in various roles, most recently as a legislative director focusing on health policy.

In his new position, his primary focus will be on judiciary, public safety, health and human services issues.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to him anytime with questions or concerns about pending legislation at johnson@micounties.org.

 

Senate considers changes to MIDC

Two identical bills were recently introduced in the House and the Senate both amending the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) Act.  The bills will require indigent defense systems to include indigent youth. Additionally, they will expand the MIDC to 19 members, with the 19th member being an attorney specializing in juvenile defense. The MIDC will also be required to establish procedures for resolving disputes with noncompliant indigent defense systems.

As is currently written, the bills would alter the standards for determining indigency. We are working with the bill sponsors on a few legislative changes to ensure the 50%/25%/25% disbursement method stays in place, allowing counties to expect the same system of disbursement as before. Additionally, we are advocating for the use of federal poverty guidelines to determine indigency, ensuring uniformity.

This week, the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee heard testimony on both HB 4070, by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson), and SB 81, by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Washtenaw), and passed Senate Bill 81 out of committee favorably. We expect House Bill 4070, with the updated language, to come before the House Judiciary Committee soon.

For more information on this issue, contact James Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.

 

House committee takes testimony on juvenile transport

This week, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4018, by Rep. Michael Mueller (R-Genesee), which would allow juvenile offenders over 16 years old to be transported with adult offenders under certain conditions. For example, if the offense was committed, or if the adult is no older than 25 years, they were taken into custody at the same time, or they were taken into custody for the same crime or in the same vehicle at the time of the crime. The juvenile would then be separated from the adult as soon as possible after being taken to the appropriate location.

MAC supports this legislation because it will save time and resources for an already stretched-thin police force. We expect this legislation to come up for a full committee vote soon.

For more information on this issue, contact James Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.


Committee looks at eviction requirements

This week, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4021, by Rep. Aragona (R-Macomb), which would allow district court magistrates to conduct trials in eviction cases, as long as the chief judge of the district court approves it, and the magistrate is a licensed attorney. The bill would also require pretrial hearings for eviction summary proceedings.

This legislation essentially codifies a previously repealed administrative order from the Supreme Court in 2020, which required pretrial hearings and allowed district court magistrates to conduct proceedings in response to the high volume of eviction cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on this issue, contact James Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.

 

Deadline approaches for federal appropriation requests

With the federal budget season upon us it is time for filling out funding requests for counties. Sen. Gary Peters serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which gives him an excellent opportunity to advocate for Michigan and its priorities.

There are two different request forms which can be completed:

  • Programmatic Funding Requests
  • Congressionally Directed Spending Requests

Programmatic funding is a request for funding at a specific level that falls under an authorized federal program, while Congressionally Directed Spending Requests are funding requests for high-impact public local projects which can receive benefit from federal funding.

March 17 is the deadline to have the Programmatic Funding and/or Congressionally Directed Spending requests submitted for consideration.

Please contact Legan Rose, rose@micounties.org, if you are interested in receiving the 2026 appropriations handbook, which will provide for more in depth information on the process.

 

Gov. Whitmer invited to 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been invited to address the 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference on Tuesday, April 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Lansing.

The governor has not appeared in person at a MAC event since spring of 2019, so this is a rare opportunity for county leaders to hear directly from her on her plans for the 2026 state budget and how she expects to advance her proposal to inject $3 billion into the state’s road account.

Treasury releases information on marijuana payments

The Michigan Department of Treasury is issuing annual distributions to municipalities, counties and tribes that have adult-use marijuana retail stores or microbusinesses located in their jurisdiction that were licensed as of September 30, 2024. These distributions will cover the taxes and fees collected in the state Fiscal Year 2024 under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (Initiated Law 1 of 2018).

As part of the Act, unexpended balances are distributed as follows:

  1. 15% to municipalities and tribes in which a licensed marijuana retail store or microbusiness is located. Distributions are allocated in proportion to the number of licensed marijuana retail stores and microbusinesses located within the municipality or tribal lands to the total of all licensed marijuana retail stores and microbusinesses located in the state. (If a marijuana retail store or microbusiness is both within a municipality and on a tribe’s lands, the distribution is issued to the tribe.)
  2. 15% to counties and tribes in which a licensed marijuana retail store or microbusiness is located. Distributions are allocated in proportion to the number of licensed marijuana retail stores and microbusinesses located within the county or tribal lands to the total of all licensed marijuana retail stores and microbusinesses located in the state. (If a marijuana retail store or microbusiness is both within a county and on a tribe’s lands, the distribution is issued to the tribe.)
  3. 35% to the School Aid Fund to be used for K-12 education.
  4. 35% to the Michigan Transportation Fund to be used for the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges.

Distributions to local units of government

Cities, villages, townships, counties and tribes will be receiving nearly $100 million under the Act. The distribution rate for FY 2024 adult-use marijuana payments is slightly over $58,200 per licensed marijuana retail store or microbusiness.

Each city, village, township, county and tribe will receive a payment based on the number of licensed marijuana retail stores and microbusinesses located within its jurisdiction as of September 30, 2024.

A listing of adult-use marijuana distributions (by municipality, county and tribe) can be found in the following document:

Questions? Comments?

For more information about distributions under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, go to www.michigan.gov/revenuesharing. Questions regarding payments can be emailed to TreasRevenueSharing@michigan.gov or call 517-335-7484.

 

Staff picks

Legislative Update 2-14-25

Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Michigan Legislature continues debate on sick time and minimum wage changes

The Michigan Legislature remains locked in a debate over amendments to the Earned Sick Time Act and the state’s Minimum Wage Law as the Feb. 21, 2025, effective date for current legislation quickly approaches. The House and Senate have proposed differing versions of bills addressing these issues, with key disagreements over tipped worker wages, paid sick leave for small businesses, and accrual policies for seasonal and part-time workers.

Minimum wage law amendments

Two bills — Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 4001 — aim to amend Michigan’s minimum wage law. While both bills seek to adjust wage structures, the primary difference between them is how they handle wages for tipped workers. The House version, HB 4001, passed over to the Senate a few weeks ago, but the Senate instead voted on SB 8 this week, which includes different provisions regarding what percentage of the minimum wage tipped workers should earn. The ongoing dispute between the chambers could delay resolution on this issue.

Earned Sick Time Act amendments

Similarly, Senate Bill 15 (SB 15) and House Bill 4002 (HB 4002) propose changes to the Earned Sick Time Act. HB 4002, passed by the House weeks ago, is currently under Senate consideration, while SB 15 remains on the Senate floor after extensive committee discussions. The primary disagreements between these bills center on the number of hours small businesses must provide in paid and unpaid sick leave, as well as the definition of a “small business.” While both chambers have agreed to define small businesses based on employee count, specific thresholds remain unresolved. Additional differences involve how paid sick leave accrues for seasonal and part-time employees.

With one week before the February 21, 2025, effective date, lawmakers face significant pressure to reconcile differences and send final legislation to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Governor has suggested that the Legislature pass a bill postponing the effective date to July 2025, allowing more time for debate and potential compromise.

For more information on this topic, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Podcast 83 reviews ‘disappointing’ budget provisions, new road plan from governor

The governor’s plans for the fiscal 2026 budget and for Michigan roads are the focus of the newest episode of Podcast 83.

“(The governor) proposed a 4 percent increase in revenue sharing (for FY26), but really it wasn’t a 4 percent increase in revenue sharing,” explained Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director. “It was a 3.6 percent increase in the overall amount that we got last year in revenue sharing.

“As a reminder for our members, there was an additional $30 million put into county revenue sharing last year and that went out in a different formula than what we originally were receiving in county revenue sharing. So, there was the base of the $261 million and then an additional $30 million that went out to counties based on an inverse relationship that they have to their taxable value compared to the rest of the state.

“Well, the governor separated those lines, those dollars, out in her budget recommendation this year, and said, we’re only going to give you a 4 percent increase on that $261 million base, and we’re just going to give you that $30 million that you got last year, but we’re not giving any increases on it. … We’re slightly disappointed in that, but also a little disappointed in the fact that she didn’t include the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which she didn’t include last year, either.”

In the rest of the budget, Bosworth said, “It was really pretty much flat funding for anything that had anything to do with counties. I mean, there was no increase in any, any of our line items: not county jail reimbursement, not prosecutors, not in the Child Care Fund.”

Later in the episode, Bosworth and host Stephan Currie, MAC executive director, reviewed the governor’s new road proposal, which calls for $3 billion from a variety of sources.

“Some of the proposed new taxes that are being proposed would be Facebook ads, Twitter ads, things like that would be taxed. Amazon delivery fees,” said Currie. “You could see a delivery fee tax that goes towards the roads, covering Uber, Uber Eats, those kind of food deliveries, taxi services, limo services. … In addition, there’s apparently a loophole, which I didn’t know about this until reading about it a little bit today, in the marijuana tax, where there’s not all the marijuana that’s being sold is being properly taxed at the point of sale.”

To view the full episode, recorded on Feb. 10, click here.

Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.

And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.

 

Staff picks

Legislative Update 2-7-25

Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Counties would get 4% revenue sharing bump in governor’s plan

Michigan counties would see a 4 percent increase in the revenue sharing total in fiscal 2026 under a budget plan presented by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration this week.

Whitmer’s budget, which is $83.5 billion overall, $15.3 billion of that General Fund, leaves out key policy initiatives that local governments have been seeking.

The 4 percent increase in county revenue sharing would not apply to the entire revenue-sharing base from FY25. The administration has excluded the $30 million in equalization payments for counties that were first included in the FY25 budget, meaning these payments remain flat. Counties would still see just over $300 million in this plan. Notably absent from the proposal is the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund that MAC and other local government groups have long supported.

Public safety funding is another point of contention. The governor seeks $75 million for public safety and violence prevention, but counties are entirely excluded from eligibility — a move that MAC has criticized as shortsighted. Counties play a central role in law enforcement, courts, jails, diversion programs, specialty treatment courts and juvenile justice, particularly on behalf of townships that rely on county-level services. By shutting out counties, MAC argues the state is diluting the effectiveness of these critical funds.

Another missing element is a comprehensive road funding plan. However, speculation in Lansing suggests a plan could be released soon. With infrastructure needs mounting, many are eager to see how the governor plans to address road repairs and long-term funding solutions.

Overshadowing all budget discussions is the looming threat of a federal funding freeze, which could impact roughly 42 percent of the proposed budget. Lawmakers are watching intently to see how federal decisions might affect Michigan’s financial outlook.

As the budget process unfolds, MAC will continue pressing for adjustments to revenue sharing, public safety funding and road investments

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org

 

House advances rule to tie special spending to immigration policies

A rule advanced out of a key House committee this week that seeks to prohibit appropriations bills from including earmarked spending for municipalities that maintain policies perceived as obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

Under House Resolution 19, a municipality — including any official, department, or board — would be ineligible for “legislatively directed spending” (think earmarks, not regular budget line items) if it:

  • Maintains any rule, policy, or ordinance that subverts federal immigration enforcement in any way.
  • Refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests.

Before a municipality could receive legislatively directed spending, HR 19 requires local governments to submit detailed documentation to the House, including:

  1. A report on local policies and ordinances related to federal immigration law and enforcement. This must include rules regarding cooperation with ICE and detainer requests and whether the municipality shields undocumented immigrants from federal authorities.
  2. A formal certification letter from the municipality’s chief executive officer, elected board, or legal representative, stating that:
    • Local policies do not encourage or support obstruction of federal immigration enforcement.
    • The municipality will comply with federal immigration law.

If HR 19 gains traction, it could have significant fiscal and legal implications for municipalities across Michigan. HR 19 is now before the full House.

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Senate begins debate on Earned Sick Time Act changes

The Michigan Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs held a hearing this week on Senate Bill 15, by Sen. Sam Singh (D-Ingham), which has several key amendments to the Earned Sick Time Act set to take effect on Feb. 21, 2025. With time running short, the Senate and House must reach an agreement on changes to the law before its implementation.

The amendments in SB 15 would:

  • Redefine the definition of a “small business” from one with fewer than 10 employees to one with fewer than 25 employees.
  • Reduce the number of hours a small business must provide paid leave to 40 as opposed to larger businesses that remain at 72 hours but requires small businesses to provide an additional 32 hours of unpaid leave.
  • Allow businesses to frontload sick time at the beginning of the year instead of accruing it throughout.
  • Cap the amount of accrued sick time employees can carry over each year to 144 hours if it gets paid out and 288 if it does not.

This Senate proposal follows the House’s passage of House Bill 4002 last week, which takes a more business-friendly approach. The bill, which MAC backs:

  • Exempts businesses with fewer than 50 employees from the Earned Sick Time Act.
  • Narrows employee eligibility, excluding independent contractors, out-of-state workers, seasonal employees (working 25 weeks or fewer), part-time employees (25 hours or less per week) and variable-hour employees.
  • Provides two accrual models:
    • Frontloading Model: Employers give up to 72 hours of sick time at the start of the year, with no carryover requirements.
    • Accrual Model: Employees earn one hour of sick time per 30 hours worked, capping at 72 hours annually. Carryover is limited to 72 hours unless the employer allows more. Employers may opt to pay out unused time to avoid carryover.
  • Allows employers to integrate sick time with existing PTO policies for administrative efficiency.
  • Clarifies sick time pay rates, excluding bonuses, tips, commissions, overtime and holiday pay.
  • Permits employers to set documentation, notice and disciplinary policies for sick time use.

With the Earned Sick Time Act’s effective date quickly approaching, the Senate and House must reconcile their versions of the amendments. Business groups have expressed strong support for HB 4002’s broader exemptions, while worker advocacy groups favor SB 15’s more limited revisions. The debate in Lansing now centers on how much flexibility businesses should have while ensuring employees retain adequate sick leave protections.

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Oakland’s Taub, a former MAC Board president, passes at age 85

Taub

Shelley Goodman Taub, former Oakland County commissioner and president of the Michigan Association of Counties in 2016-17, passed away on Feb. 4, 2025, after a brief illness. She was 85.

“Shelley’s life of public service never ceased to impress,” said MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie, “She wanted to serve, she enjoyed serving and she committed the time and energy to be effective for her county, her state and MAC.”

Taub did two long stints on the Oakland Board, interrupted by two terms in the Michigan House, 2003-2006.

Taub was first elected to the MAC Board in 2012 and quickly rose into the leadership ranks to become president for the 2016-17 member year.

During her year as MAC president, Taub led a historic delegation of Michigan commissioners to a special White House briefing in August 2017 and continually championed a county role in arts and culture as chair of the Arts and Culture Commission of the National Association of Counties.

In her inaugural address at the 2016 Annual Conference, Taub said,

“‘One size does not fit all.’ This is an oft-repeated phrase that is intended to convey to the listener that the speaker understands your pain; that the speaker truly grasps the problem.

“The speaker of ‘one size does not fit all’ remembers the old fairy tale about the glass slipper and that you, the commissioner, have been wandering around the country like the prince with an idea or a mandate that does not fit, does not work, trying to squeeze into that slipper, particularly when the state or feds send us the slipper, the shoebox and the bill. … So, what do we do and how do we comply and how in this state or this world can we squeeze a size 10 foot into a size 6 slipper?”

Taub then announced the creation of a message board system for county commissioners to share best practices, questions and ideas, all to leverage the collective wisdom of Michigan’s hundreds of county commissioners. The Commissioners Forum continues to operate today.

In 2016, Taub was selected for the 2016 class of the Women in Government Program operated by the Governing Institute to increase female participation in public service.

Taub also served on NACo’s Board of Directors.

 

Sign up now for the 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference in Lansing

The 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference will be held April 7-9, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lansing.

The event, co-hosted by the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council, will feature a new format that ensures no MAC member misses any informational session that interests them.

This year, those sessions will include updates on such issues as cybersecurity, Michigan’s housing crunch, road funding options, the state’s juvenile bed shortage and much more! All of these educational sessions will be plenary sessions, meaning no overlapping events or choices to be made.

Special events at the conference include:

  • A Strolling Dinner on the opening night for mingling with colleagues and MAC’s Premier Corporate Partners
  • A Legislative Reception, during which MAC will honor its “Legislative Advocates” for 2024
  • Presentation of certificates to members of the 2025 class of County Commissioner Academy

Member pricing for the conference is $425 for all events, though one- and two-day packages are available. Any elected or appointed county official or member of MCMCFC may use member pricing.

To start your registration, go to https://bit.ly/2025LCregister.

MAC has secured a room block at the DoubleTree, with a per-night rate of $189. To secure that hotel rate, register directly with the hotel by clicking here.

We look forward to seeing you at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Lansing!

 

Blue Cross to host webinar on using Health Savings Accounts

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are increasingly part of top employers’ benefits offerings. In this employer-requested webinar, Blue Cross, a MACSC sponsored program and MAC Premier Partner, will explore the ways employers and employees can benefit from an HSA. Whether the HSA enables employers to offer a lower-premium plan, enhance retirement planning strategies or reduce the tax burden for employees and the organization, it is a core element to a comprehensive benefit package.

Join Blue Cross on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern time as they discuss:

  • Tax advantages for employers and employees
  • How HSAs can be an important component of retirement planning for employees
  • How employers can communicate effectively with employees across their organization about the advantages HSAs provide and how to make the most of them

Register here.

 

Sign up now for the 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference in Lansing

Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news

The 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference will be held April 7-9, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lansing.

The event, co-hosted by the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council, will feature a new format that ensures no MAC member misses any informational session that interests them.

This year, those sessions will include updates on such issues as cybersecurity, Michigan’s housing crunch, road funding options, the state’s juvenile bed shortage and much more! All of these educational sessions will be plenary sessions, meaning no overlapping events or choices to be made.

Special events at the conference include:

  • A Strolling Dinner on the opening night for mingling with colleagues and MAC’s Premier Corporate Partners
  • A Legislative Reception, during which MAC will honor its “Legislative Advocates” for 2024
  • Presentation of certificates to members of the 2025 class of County Commissioner Academy

Member pricing for the conference is $425 for all events, though one- and two-day packages are available. Any elected or appointed county official or member of MCMCFC may use member pricing.

To start your registration, go to https://bit.ly/2025LCregister.

MAC has secured a room block at the DoubleTree, with a per-night rate of $189. To secure that hotel rate, register directly with the hotel by clicking here.

We look forward to seeing you at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Lansing!

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