County leaders, legislators discuss policy needs at 2024 conference
Keynoter Dr. Peter Cressy emphasized the need for leaders to be adaptable in times of crisis and change in his conference address. (Rod Sanford Photography)
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” With these words from Winston Churchill, Dr. Peter Cressy concluded his keynote address to the 2024 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference on Tuesday in Lansing.
Cressy spoke to a filled conference hall at the event, which drew nearly 300 county leaders and others to Lansing this week.
Earlier on Tuesday, MAC honored its County Advocate Award winners for legislative work done in 2023.
Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw) was lauded for championing Revenue Sharing Trust Fund legislation that would fulfill a longstanding MAC priority. Rep. Curt VanderWall (R-Mason) was honored for “commitment to preserving local control and championing legislation that helps counties provide services to the best of their abilities.”
During a legislative panel on Wednesday, attendees heard all four participants ― Sens. Aric Nesbitt and Jeremy Moss and Reps. John Fitzgerald and Graham Filler ― pledge support for “proper” revenue sharing, with Moss, Filler and Fitzgerald endorsing the trust fund reform effort.
National Association of Counties President Mary Jo McGuire of Ramsay County, Minnesota, not only delivered an address on her “ForwardTogether” initiative but spent two days with attendees making connections at receptions and presentations.
“We’re pleased at well everything came together,” said Executive Director Stephan Currie. “We had more than 30 legislators attend our reception on Tuesday evening, at a time when there were several other major events going on in Lansing. This shows the importance of counties at the state level.”
Materials from the conference’s Plenary sessions and 12 policy breakouts can be found at MAC’s website. In coming weeks, MAC also will be adding video segments from the event to its YouTube channel.
MAC’s next major educational event is the 2024 Policy Summit, to be held June 25 in Lansing and via zoom. Details and registration information should be released in mid-May.
FY25 state budget bills, with key trust fund, advance another step
Budget work continued in the Legislature this week with various spending bills gaining approval of each chamber’s full appropriations committee.
Click here to see a review of county spending issues from the April 26 Legislative Update.
A focus of MAC’s budget work right now is enactment of its Revenue Sharing Trust Fund proposal, as each chamber’s appropriators have now endorsed the concept, but with different provisions.
As detailed in this Issue Brief and by Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth at this week’s Legislative Conference, House and Senate appropriations panels want to set up a dedicated trust fund using a portion of state sales tax receipts. The Senate version would secure a larger slice than the House’s, yielding $52 million more for counties in FY25 alone.
To gain the higher amount, MAC is working with legislators to address how the budget handles a separate “public safety fund” pushed by House Democrats.
As budget work accelerates in advance of the Legislature’s June 30 deadline to finish its fiscal work, keep an eye out for MAC Advocacy Alerts so you can add your voice to MAC’s call for maximizing revenue sharing.
For more information on MAC’s budget advocacy, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.
Governor signs trial court funding extension
A key part of funding for trial courts in Michigan is again secure for another 30 months after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5392 this week.
Extension of the ability of local judges to impose fees, this time to Dec. 31, 2026, was a MAC priority for the 2024 legislative year.
HB 5392, by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson), moved the extension of fee authority from May 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2026.
A related measure, House Bill 5534, by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Oakland), has not yet received a final vote of concurrence in the House. HB 5534 would require the State Court Administrative Office to complete data collection and turn over to the Legislature by May 1, 2026, for advancement towards implementing the 2019 Trial Court Funding Commission recommendations.
MAC supports HB 5534 and long has supported adoption of the funding commission’s recommendations.
For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Troubling election bills get Senate hearing
Election bills that would impose sweeping new duties on local governments received a hearing in a Senate committee this week. Known collectively as the “Michigan Voting Rights Act,” Senate Bills 401-404 were introduced to bolster federal law and voting rights in the state for members of a protected class and for disabled electors. While the intent is straightforward, the practical implementation would be complex and could expose locals to frivolous legal challenges.
Local governments will have an incalculable degree of legal liability. SB 401, by Sen. Darin Camilleri (D-Wayne), for example, prohibits a local government from impairing a protected class from participating in elections or the political process, but many of the listed impairments are beyond the control of a local government or conflict with Michigan election law.
The other major bill of concern is SB 403, by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Wayne), which mandates local governments must provide language assistance for elections. This includes providing translated signage, forms, ballots and a communication system that offers translation to electors. The local government will have to rely on the Secretary of State’s Office to produce these materials.
MAC opposed the bills when they were first introduced but is still working through the latest amendments. We will be meeting with bill sponsors and various stakeholders in the coming weeks in anticipation of further committee discussion.
For more information on this issue, contact Madeline Fata at fata@micounties.org.
Van Buren Commissioner Gail Patterson-Gladney receives her certificate from MAC President Jim Storey. (Rod Sanford Photography)
More than 60 commissioners graduate from MAC academy
MAC’s County Commissioner Academy (CCA) honored its largest graduating class ever during a Plenary session on Tuesday, April 30 at the 2024 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference.
Sixty-six county commissioners earned recognition as “certified” or “advanced.” Commissioners who attended the conference were presented their certificate by MAC President Jim Storey. Those who were unable to attend will be shipped their certificate.
Participants in CCA earn continuing education “hours” by attending designated events and workshops. “Certification” is offered at two different levels: “Certified” is reached at 10 hours, while “Advanced” is reached with 20 hours. In addition to MAC events, credit-qualified presentations also are offered by MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Treasury.
For a full list of this year’s graduates and more information on the academy, click here.
MACSC provides $250 prizes to 2 lucky conference attendees
Commissioner Jeri Strong of Mecosta County and Administrator Katie Zeits of Benzie County were the winners of the MACSC Exhibitor Bingo drawing at the 2024 Legislative Conference on Wednesday, May 1.
Each received $250 after their completed bingo cards were drawn from a bowl by MAC President Jim Storey and Executive Director Stephan Currie.
In the last decade, MAC Service Corp. has issued more than $7,000 in cash prizes to attendees of MAC’s two major conferences each year.
Staff picks
- Michigan Policy Insiders Panel and 88th State of the State Survey (MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research)
- DHS announces $1.8 billion in preparedness grants to advance county security and resilience (NACo News)
- Nine states approve, pursue speed, red-light camera rule revisions (Landline Media)
- Satellite image reveals strange warm spot in Lake Michigan (MLive)
Budget proceedings ramped up in the Legislature this week with a remarkable increase proposed for county revenue sharing.
While the specifics of the pilot project have not yet been solidified, participation will be voluntary, and participants will be reimbursed for what they pay in gas tax while the study is active. While Michigan is already 
MAC urged a House panel to treat counties fairly by amending a 10-bill package designed to restrict ― but not eliminate ― local governments’ power to regulate short term-rentals in testimony this week.
Join NACo on April 30 for the webinar “Modernizing County Finance with Digital Disbursements” to discover how incorporating digital payments can increase constituents’ satisfaction and improve government efficiency. In this session, representatives from Knox County, Ill., the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Visa will share how they delivered fast and secure payments to county election judges and jurors.
On April 8, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the release of a 
County leaders are advised to participate in the newest edition of a webinar series co-sponsored by MAC. The May 2 edition of “Updates and Resources for Local Governments” will focus on infrastructure requirements and resources available to local governments.
Legislation to secure key trial court funding has passed out of the House, and recently introduced Senate bills on the subject received a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
Democrats again will hold a 56-54 edge in the Michigan House of Representatives after two special elections held Tuesday.
Learn your options about social media posting in April 22 webinar
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), legal experts will lead a discussion of the Lindke v. Freed decision in which the Supreme Court set forth the test for when local government officials are considered “state actors” for the purposes of the First Amendment when they post on social media.
Click here to register. The webinar begins at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The LGLC is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC), International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases.
Capital improvements are subject of April 22 ‘Fiscally Ready’ session
Recurring annual expenses are simple to budget, but repair and replacement of big-ticket items can be much more difficult. A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will help your local government organize those major projects and forecast the expenses to make long-term planning simpler. This session will cover the basics of a CIP, best practices, and give participants a chance to share techniques that have worked for their community, as well as policies, procedures, and accounting for capital asset management and planning.
Click here to register for the event, which runs from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
For more information about Fiscally Ready Communities, please check out the Treasury Fiscally Ready Communities webpage. This webpage includes Treasury’s 32-page Fiscally Ready Communities Best Practices document, which we encourage all local officials to review.
If you have any questions, email TreasLocalGov@michigan.gov with the subject line “Fiscally Ready.”
Legislative Update 4-12-24
MAC news, Blog, Events, Legislative, MACSC, Marketing, NACo
Fee authority for courts likely to expire without legislative intervention
House Bill 5392, by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson), extends a quickly approaching May 1, 2024, expiration (“sunset”) of the authority of trial courts to levy fees that constitute a key part of their operational funding.
However, HB 5392 is “tie-barred” to a separate measure through actions of the House Judiciary Committee. The companion bill, HB 5534, by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Oakland), outlines a plan for the State Court Administrative Office to conduct data collection on certain trial court costs and revenue sources and provide a report to the Legislature with proposals to implement the Trial Court Funding Commission’s recommendations from 2019. A “tie-bar” means both bills must advance together.
MAC sees broad support for the sunset extension, but the prospects for the companion bill are much less clear. If, for political reasons, the legislation is delayed and not signed before May 1, a funding gap will result.
As we approach May 1, and the bills have yet to receive a vote, it is increasing likely fee authority for courts will expire. Courts stand to lose nearly $50 million in operational funding annually if HB 5392 does not pass. This loss of revenue, if not covered by the state, will fall on the counties to cover.
With the likelihood for the fee authority to expire, the State Court Administrative Office sent a memo to courts last week, encouraging them to work with counties to establish a back-up funding plan.
While we are expecting the authority to expire on May 1, MAC anticipates the bills will still be signed in May. MAC is advocating for state funding to be appropriated to counties in the event a funding gap is created, to the tune of $1 million per week.
MAC supports both HB 5392 and 5534, with our priority to move HB 5392 and extend the funding authority prior to May 1.
MAC is asking members to take immediate action to urge quick legislative passage. Please visit MAC’s advocacy center to share your support for HBs 5392 and 5534 with your elected officials. The legislative window is closing, as there are limited days for the Legislature to advance the bills to the governor prior to May 1.
For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Executive Director Stephan Currie with official County Government Month resolution.
Legislative resolution recognizes ‘County Government Month’
April has been designated National County Government Month in Michigan after the Senate approved a resolution this week.
Resolution 105, by Sens. Jeff Irwin (D-Washtenaw) and Sylvia Santana (D-Wayne), was requested by MAC as part of National County Government Month festivities led by the National Association of Counties. Irwin is a former Washtenaw County commissioner and a member of MAC’s County Caucus.
This recognition is an opportunity to highlight the hard work of county officials and the multitude of services county governments provide. Since 1991, the National Association of Counties has pushed for all states to celebrate counties throughout the month of April.
Impact on counties of federal PFAS rule as yet unclear
The federal government has issued new drinking water standards pertaining to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week the “first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard.”
There are 66,000 public drinking water systems in the U.S. and the EPA estimates that between 6 percent and 10 percent of those systems will need to take action to meet the new standards. The federal government has made available $1 billion in funding to test and treat both private and public water supplies for PFAS.
Michigan has been a national leader in PFAS testing and treatment since at least 2017 with the creation of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART). While MPART has already sampled every public drinking water system in the state, it is not yet publicly known how many, if any, will be impacted by the new standards.
For more information on MAC’s environmental policy work, contact Madeline Fata at fata@micounties.org.
Trial court legislation still stuck in Lansing calendar, Podcast 83 reports
“So, at this time, unfortunately, we’re still held up on trial court funding legislation in the House,” Gibson said. “What’s becoming increasingly likely, and what I think will end up happening, is once the two vacant house seats are filled after those special elections, April 16, maybe. So, let’s say April 23 or 24, maybe the House will vote the bills out, then the Senate is going to have a hearing on some Senate versions of those bills on the 18th. So, whenever the House bills get over there, they can just get sent right to the Senate floor. … We probably will be looking at a week or so after May 1 for implementation of the new sunset.”
In that case, MAC will be pressing the state to reimburse counties for the approximately $1 million per week that will be lost in operating revenue, as it did the last time the fee authority expired in the fall of 2022.
Also reviewed in this week’s episode are:
The potential effects of legislation just signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on hotel/motel tax authority for Kent and seven other counties.
The timing for the passage of the state’s FY25 budget this spring with the statewide election calendar looming.
View the full episode, recorded on April 8, by clicking here.
Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.
And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.
April 16 webinar set on harm reduction and opioid treatment meds
Many people have negative reactions when they hear “methadone” or “needle exchange,” but these are two of several science-backed ways to improve health and prevent deaths among people who use drugs. This presentation provides a broad overview of two kinds of interventions that science shows can help people who use drugs: medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), sch as methadone, and harm reduction, which includes services like needle and syringe programs. We will explain how these interventions work, show evidence of their effectiveness, and address common misconceptions about them.
Register to attend here.
The series is hosted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University as part of their Technical Assistance Collaborative.
For more information on opioid settlements are technical assistance, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.
New tool provides ‘one-stop shop’ for your grant searches
The MI Funding Hub is a new effort led by the Michigan Municipal League and state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to develop one-stop shop for grants. The hub provides open access to a searchable database of federal and state funding sources as well as philanthropic foundations that can be queried based on type of applicant and funding category as funding becomes available.
The hub provides a monthly newsletter announcing new grants, webinars and grant readiness training.
Local officials also have free access to hands-on technical assistance from a team of experts across many fields through the MI Funding Hub helpdesk. After receiving your helpdesk request form, the team will schedule a meeting to discuss funding needs, answer funding questions, direct applicants to appropriate funding sources and coach you on developing application strategies.
Services provided through the MI Funding Hub do not include writing grant applications, but MAC’s CoProPlus subsidiary does have a pre-negotiated grant writing contract available.
Get started by watching a recorded introductory webinar.
Use cyber courses to bolster your county’s defenses
In early April, Grand Traverse County was hit with a “spear phishing” attack through its email system. The county’s IT team was able to ward off the assault, but this is yet another reminder that digital security is a fundamental duty for any county government in the 21st century.
The NACo Cyberattack Simulation is a reality-based simulation that prepares county risk leaders for cyberattacks by assessing counties’ current state of readiness and identifying gaps. This simulation will help attendees evaluate their incident response procedures and tools and guide them in developing a detailed cyberattack response strategy.
Upcoming sessions will focus on:
The NACo Cyberattack Simulation is designed for cybersecurity managers, their teams and those responsible for risk defense, protection, and recovery, including HR, policy management, finance, public safety and emergency services. It requires 30-60 minutes per day for one week. Activities can be completed on the participants’ schedule and accessed online anywhere.
The retail price of the one week Cyberattack Simulation is $795 per enrollee; however, the simulations are fully sponsored for all counties, bringing your price down to ZERO.
To learn more or enroll, email moderator@pdaleadership.com.
Electronic options now offered on payments from state
The LCSA issues thousands of checks each year to local governments and a number of these remain uncashed. Issuing physical checks means there’s a greater chance of those funds being lost.
While we do work with the local units to try to locate checks and/or reissue them, if necessary, this process can take months.
As a result, we are commencing an electronic payment outreach program with the goal of ensuring local governments receive payments required under state statute(s). Our partners at Plante Moran are launching an outreach effort to contact local units of government directly to set up electronic payment.
LCSA offers two options for electronic deposit: through an ACH or through a Michigan Class participant-to-participant transfer.
If you would like to begin the simple process of converting to electronic payment, email us at electronicpayment@lcsami.gov. For questions, please contact Samantha Harkins, ceo@michiganmsa.org.
Opioid settlement metrics tool released
OSPRI was developed by a working group from Vital Strategies and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with additional contributions from the Pew Charitable Trusts, Shatterproof, the CDC Foundation, and the National Association of Counties.
For additional information or technical assistance with monitoring investments, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.
Legislative Update 4-5-24
Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, Marketing, NACo
Time grows short to register for 2024 Legislative Conference
The 2024 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference starts April 29, but MAC’s special room rate at the DoubleTree Hotel expires today. Attendees may be able to still obtain lodging there, but they will be paying the full retail rate.
The next nearest hotel is the Courtyard Marriott (see map). Their room rates are $159 for the night of April 29 and $189 for the night of April 30. Click here for more information or to book a room there.
Digital conference registration continues until April 19 for the event. Leading in times of crisis and change will be the theme of its keynote address.
Retired Adm. Peter Cressy, director of Executive Leadership Programs at the Washington Leadership Institute, will speak on:
Cressy
“Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Churchill: A Strategic Approach to Leading in Times of Crisis and Change: Washington and these other great leaders manifested eight common characteristics in leading during times of crisis and change, ranging from visibility and communication to planning and collaboration. This popular session will explore examples of these traits during the times of crisis each of these outstanding leaders faced, which remain relevant today.”
Additional plenary sessions will feature:
Breakout sessions on current challenges for county leaders, including broadband funding updates, lessons learned from the opioid settlements, impact of renewable energy siting legislation, options for infrastructure funding to address the expansion of electric vehicles and much more!
For any conference-related question, send an email to connell@micounties.org.
New law expands hotel/motel tax authority for 8 counties
House Bill 5048, by Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Kent), uses population thresholds that qualify these counties to increase what they can charge on hotel and motel rooms. The counties are Calhoun, Genesee, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Saginaw and Washtenaw.
MAC had backed a bid for this option for all 83 counties to give them another economic development tool. Leaders in Kent County, in particular, pushed hard for change as they are seeking revenue for a new sports complex and an aquarium.
MAC’s broader efforts were opposed by the Restaurant and Lodging Association and convention and visitors bureaus, leading to this more restricted law.
These projects hold immense promise for Kent County, not only in terms of providing recreational and cultural amenities but also in driving economic growth through increased tourism and job creation. The sports complex promises to be a hub for sports enthusiasts, attracting both local fans and visitors from afar. Similarly, the aquarium offers an immersive experience for residents and tourists alike, showcasing the region’s aquatic biodiversity and educational opportunities.
Under the law, an increase will require a vote of the people to increase the excise tax from 5 percent to 8 percent for eligible counties. A separate provision for an additional 2 percent excise tax by local governments is limited to Kent County.
MAC will continue to advocate for the ability of all counties to raise revenue to fund economic growth and to provide for the public safety needs that come along with increased tourism and recreation in this state.
For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.
Legislation introduced to return local control on tobacco sales
SBs 647–654 would ban all sales of flavored tobacco products, require tobacco retailers to be licensed and create an excise tax on e-cigarettes and vapes with nicotine. The package would also repeal current statutory penalties on youth for possessing tobacco products.
MAC has taken a position of support for SB 647 due to its focus on returning control to counties for the regulation of tobacco sales.
For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
CoPro+ program can be ally in procurement work
MAC’s CoProPlus subsidiary, now entering its second decade of service to public entities, stands ready to assist MAC members in expansive ways, explained CoPro+ staffers in a new episode of MAC’s Podcast 83.
“One thing that makes us unique is that we will go into an entity that needs our services and offer a full range of end-to-end procurement services,” said Penny Saites of CoPro+. “(We offer) everything from writing bid specs, to writing the bid document, to assisting through the procurement process and all the way to evaluation and contract execution.”
“Any public agency is eligible to participate in the program,” added Chuck Wolford. “And that could be a county, a city, a township, a public school, a college or a university. And you can use the contracts at absolutely no cost to you and save you the time for procuring it again, we’ve already done the work for you. It’s already been vetted. And you’re always going have something that’s done the right way through this program.”
While the figure changes regularly, CoPro+ has about 150 contracts in place. About 20 counties have made use of at least one such contract.
“We have contracts in commodities, IT professional services and maintenance and repair type contracts. So, if you’re a facility guy, you’re going want to look at some of those building services contracts that we have, like we have a really nice overhead door contract where those vendors also do HVAC and other building services,” Saites explained.
“We are looking at some of the professional services contracts; grant writing I know is one of them. We get a lot of questions from MAC (on that issue),” Saites added. “There’s also compensation studies available on there, if folks would like to engage with that group.”
View the full episode, recorded on Feb. 28, by clicking here.
Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.
And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.
EGLE event will focus on environmental compliance challenges
Get up-to-date information on regulatory topics, environmental requirements, best practices, EGLE hot topics and more.
Network with regulators, clients, and potential customers from around the state.
Choose from more than 70 concurrent technical presentations delivered by program experts on topics related to air quality, hazardous waste and materials management, drinking water requirements, water quality regulations, remediation, and emergency planning.
Take advantage of opportunities for specialized one-on-one assistance from EGLE staff and get your questions answered.
A full conference registration is $200. The deadline to register is May 27. See more details at Michigan.gov/EGLEevents.