The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)

Policy platform drafts available for member review in advance of Annual Conference

MAC news, Blog, Events, Legislative

MAC members review and vote on policy platforms at the 2019 Annual Conference.

Draft platforms for 2024-2025 are now available on our website for your review. These platforms, which were approved by the MAC Board in early August after months of careful consideration and amendments, will guide our legislative efforts and policy positions at the state level.

NOTE: To access this webpage, you will need your county’s MAC credentials, which you can get from your county administrator’s office or by contacting MAC at melot@micounties.org or despins@micounties.org.

The platforms were developed through the diligent work of our internal committees, who reviewed the platforms from previous years and made necessary amendments to reflect current needs and priorities. Our internal committees — Health and Human Services, Judiciary and Public Safety, Transportation and Infrastructure, Finance and General Government, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs and Agriculture and Tourism — have played a crucial role in shaping these documents.

These platforms are critical in helping MAC staff respond to legislative developments and advocate for the interests of counties across Michigan.

Amendment process

MAC’s By-laws (Article III) state:

“Section 6 Platform. A member wishing to submit an amendment to the MAC Platform shall submit the amendment to MAC at least five (5) days prior to the opening day of the MAC Annual Conference. Such amendment will require a majority vote at the annual meeting to be adopted.

“An amendment to the MAC Platform may be presented from the floor during the annual meeting. Such amendment will require a 2/3 majority vote of the members at the meeting at which a quorum is initially established to be adopted.”

To meet the submission deadline, the text of an amendment must be sent to despins@micounties.org by 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.

The final vote on the platforms will take place during our Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 26. Your participation in this process is essential, and we look forward to your input and involvement.

For more information, contact Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

Legislative Update 9-6-24

Blog, Events, Legislative, Marketing, NACo

Security threats on local officials will be focus of MAC conference session

Statewide headline this week: As election nears, Michigan, other states confront intimidation of clerks.

As your association, MAC is committed to policy and educational briefings that tackle emerging issues. To that end, the 2024 Annual Conference will feature a plenary session on security concerns led by experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Michigan State Police (MSP).

FBI Special Agent Kaylee Barker and Intelligence Analyst Nishawn Spiller will discuss the bureau’s Election Crimes Coordinator Program, then Ryan Rich of the MSP will present on the “Current Threat Environment for Elected Officials.”

To see this briefing, though, you must attend the conference, for which online registration will continue for only one more week.

The three-day event also will feature:

  • The 2024 President’s Banquet on Sept. 25
  • The Welcome Reception on Sept. 24
  • An optional new session called “Women of MAC” on Sept. 24
  • MAC’s Annual Business Meeting on Sept. 26
  • Elections for five MAC board seats via regional caucuses on Sept. 25

For registration questions, first review MAC’s website, then contact Tammi Connell at connell@micounties.org.

 

Counties now can see projected revenue sharing amounts for FY25

Michigan counties now can see estimates for their fiscal year 2025 revenue sharing payments via projections recently released by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

These projections offer an insight into how the new distribution model of the $291 million in county revenue sharing will affect each county.  

The changes to the distribution methodology are the result of the changes made to the state’s FY25 enacted budget. For years, county revenue sharing was based on an outdated model that was rooted in values from, among other things, a 1975 inventory tax, inflationary increases for those counties still drawing down from a reserve fund and random percentage increases and decreases decided on by the legislature and the administration. The old methodology also required counties to earn a portion of their revenue sharing with reports at the local level and state level. 

The new methodology has its roots in previous distributions, but the unprecedented $30 million increase for county revenue sharing this year will be distributed based on a county’s taxable value, as compared with the rest of the state. To be clear, all counties will see an increase in revenue sharing for FY25, compared to previous years. However, the actual impact on each county’s budget from the $30 million increase will vary depending on the final 2024 taxable values.

The new projections are based on the taxable values from 2023, which have been used as the foundation for estimating the amount each county will receive. However, it’s important to note that the actual payments to counties will be calculated based on the 2024 taxable values, which are expected to be released later in September. This means that the figures currently provided are preliminary and subject to change once the updated taxable values are available.

The FY25 projections provide a valuable early look at the funding counties can expect in the coming fiscal year. While the final amounts will depend on the forthcoming 2024 taxable values, these projections serve as an early indication on what counties can expect to receive.

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

 

MAC’s Governmental Affairs Team continued its travel to members this week, stopping in Iosco County for the Board session on Sept. 4. After the meeting, MAC’s Samantha Gibson and Madeline Fata met with (l-r): Commissioners Charles Finley, Brian Loeffler, Jay O’Farrell and Terry Dutcher.

 

Treasury webinar will focus on fundamentals, best practices

The Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) want to make you aware of our next Fiscally Ready Communities training opportunity. This FREE training is a 90-minute webinar that’s designed to assist appointed and elected officials.

Click here to register.

The upcoming webinar training will be Sept. 16, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., with additional sessions available on Oct. 21, 2024, and Dec. 12, 2024.

“From Fundamentals to Best Practices”

This program focuses on implementing financial best practices, measuring fiscal health, and local government financial management fundamentals. It will include material on reconciling a bank account, how to read and interpret governmental financial statements, audit prep umbrella, how to complete and file an F65 Report, remitting taxes timely, and how to craft an appropriate and effective audit finding Corrective Action Plan. Participants will also receive resources to support best practice implementation and assess their local unit fiscal health.

For more information about Fiscally Ready Communities, please check out 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.”

 

Opioid experts to provide issue briefing in advance of elections

The Bipartisan Policy Center and the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) on Sept. 26 will offer an in-depth discussion on the opioid epidemic ahead of the election.

 Experts will share insights from a recent national survey on Americans’ views of the opioid epidemic and evaluate the government’s response to the crisis.

Registration for virtual attendance is available by clicking here.

 

State sets regional briefings on renewable energy siting rules

Local officials can learn more about the upcoming changes to siting for large-scale renewable energy projects at regional learning sessions in October. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will be hosting Renewable Energy Academy workshops in conjunction with several councils of government to provide those interested with “neutral guidance” on the new law.

Workshop activities include discussions on planning and zoning, “workable” ordinances, and presentations by the University of Michigan Center for EmPowering Communities. No more than four individuals may attend per community. Registration is only available to each municipality located within the planning regions listed above.

How to register: Municipalities from the planning regions mentioned above will receive email notice directly from the council of government with more detailed information of the time and location, as well as instructions on how to register to attend this workshop.

 

Legislative Update 8-30-24

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

Candidates make their case for 2024 Board elections

The field is set for this year’s elections for the MAC Board of Directors.

Six county commissioners have filed for the five available seats on the Board that will be filled via regional caucuses held on Sept. 25 at the 2024 Michigan Counties Annual Conference:

  • Region I, Seat A
  • Region II, Seat A
  • Region III, Seat A
  • Region V, Seat B
  • At-large, Seat C

Only county commissioners registered for the Annual Conference may participate in the six regional caucuses. Only candidates who filed by the Aug. 23 deadline are eligible to be elected.

Regional seats are determined by the votes of that region’s caucus, with each county represented in the caucus room receiving one vote. The at-large seat is filled by the candidate receiving a majority of votes (with each commissioner casting a vote) in at least four of the six caucuses. (For questions on election procedures, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.)

Candidates provided statements to MAC to share with colleagues:

Michigan FY 2025 County Revenue Sharing Projections Released

The Michigan Department of Treasury has recently posted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 County Revenue Sharing projections, providing an essential preview of the expected funds that will be distributed to counties across the state. These projections offer a insight into how the new distribution model will affect each county.  

The changes to the distribution methodology are the result of the changes made to the State’s FY 2025 enacted budget for Michigan.  For years, county revenue sharing was based on an outdated model that was rooted in values from, among other things, a 1975 inventory tax, inflationary increases for those counties still drawing down from a reserve fund and random percentage increases and decreases decided on by the legislature and the administration.  The old methodology also required counties to earn a portion of their revenue sharing with reports at the local level and state level. 

The new methodology has it’s roots in previous distributions but the unprecedented $30M increase for county revenue sharing this year will be distributed based on a counties taxable value as compared with the rest of the State.  All counties will see an increase in revenue sharing for FY 2025 compared to previous years. However, the actual impact on each county’s budget from the $30M increase will vary depending on the final 2024 taxable values.

The Michigan Department of Treasury projected revenue sharing payments for each county for FY 2025, FY-2025-County-Revenue-Sharing-Projections-8-29-24.pdf (michigan.gov), are based on the taxable values from 2023, which have been used as the foundation for estimating the amount each county will receive. However, it’s important to note that the actual payments to counties will be calculated based on the 2024 taxable values, which are expected to be released later in September. This means that the figures currently provided are preliminary and subject to change once the updated taxable values are available.

The Department of Treasury is expected to notify counties of the final revenue sharing amounts sometime next week, but they will only be projections until the 2024 taxable values are finalized.

In conclusion, the FY 2025 County Revenue Sharing projections provide a valuable early look at the funding counties can expect in the coming fiscal year. While the final amounts will depend on the forthcoming 2024 taxable values, these projections serve as an early indication on what counties can expect to receive.  For more information, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAC on the Road: Ottawa County

MAC’s Samantha Gibson toured Ottawa County’s Family Justice Center, juvenile detention center and day treatment center for youth community-based programming. The newly unveiled Family Justice Center and the programming, resources and opportunities made available to youth in the juvenile detention center and day-treatment programs exemplify the positive result of strong partnerships between boards of commissioners and courts, ultimately benefiting the youth within their communities. Thank you to Thom Lattig, Ottawa County juvenile court director, and Kathie Kolean, assistant director of court operations, for providing the tour of their campus.

 

Podcast 83: Artificial Intelligence is the present, not the future, says NACo expert

County leaders feeling hesitant about artificial intelligence (AI) entering their workplaces need to realize the technology is already there – and will be a boon to them and their staffs, said a National Association of Counties (NACo) expert in the newest episode of Podcast 83.

Rita Reynolds, NACo’s chief information officer, and host Stephan Currie conducted a wide-ranging discussion on AI terminology, its scope and how county leaders can use a new NACo toolkit to adapt to this seminal technology.

“When you start looking at some of those recommendations in generative AI, and were we first going to start seeing it in county government, where are we going to see it initially?” Currie asked. “Is it in the back office? Is it front office? … Talk a little bit about that, where you’re starting to see counties implement some generative AI.”

“Early on ― and even now ― there’s a definite focus with what we would call the productivity applications, which really, mostly, are the back office,” Reynolds replied. “So, for productivity, it’s those type of tasks where I’m doing the same thing over and over, and it’s taking me a lot of time, or it is so repetitive that’s why I can hand this off to someone.

“And it could be as simple as meeting notes, having the artificial intelligence work for you during a meeting and summarize the meeting minutes at the end of it, it could be taking a chunk of information, maybe you’ve written something for an article, but you’re not happy with the way it’s worded. Or you need to reword it in simpler terms. And so that’s generative AI, as we call it, the tool that allows you to put information in and it generates out a response that is potentially easier to understand or more professional.”

“What do you foresee the future now is of this toolkit?” Currie asked.

“We already do have a game plan and a roadmap. Basically, the toolkit is live on the naco.org website. … There’s also an interactive, tabular type page that allows you to say, ‘I’m an elected official, take me to those sections that I need to really be aware of.’ And it’ll take you to the benefits, the challenges, the opportunities, some use cases and then several, not all, of the work recommendations,” Reynolds explained.

“I would like to just mention,” Reynolds concluded, “from the challenge perspective, the (NACo) committee was very cognizant that there are areas such as accuracy, relevancy and, of course, particularly bias that could be in the data. And we’ve all said all along, there’s always been that type of problem. Generative AI just brings it to the forefront and actually gives counties now the opportunity to be better at cleaning up the data and making it relevant.”

View the full episode, recorded on Aug. 5, 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.

 

Staff picks

Candidates make their case for 2024 Board elections

MAC news, Events

The field is set for this year’s elections for the MAC Board of Directors.

Six county commissioners have filed for the five available seats on the Board that will be filled via regional caucuses held on Sept. 25 at the 2024 Michigan Counties Annual Conference:

  • Region I, Seat A
  • Region II, Seat A
  • Region III, Seat A
  • Region V, Seat B
  • At-large, Seat C

Only county commissioners registered for the Annual Conference may participate in the six regional caucuses. Only candidates who filed by the Aug. 23 deadline are eligible to be elected.
Regional seats are determined by the votes of that region’s caucus, with each county represented in the caucus room receiving one vote. The at-large seat is filled by the candidate receiving a majority of votes (with each commissioner casting a vote) in at least four of the six caucuses. (For questions on election procedures, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.)

Candidates provided statements to MAC to share with colleagues:

John Malnar, Delta County, Region 1 candidate

I am reaching out to the UP commissioners for support to be elected to the MAC Board of Directors for Region 1.

Just a little about myself: I was born and raised in Gladstone. I have lived in Delta County my whole life. I’m a graduate of Gladstone High School and had some college at Bay de Noc Community College. I retired from Riverside Auto Sales as the service manager/warranty administrator in March 2015.

I ran for county commissioner in 2014, winning the primary election and serving as commissioner for that term. But I lost the election for the next term, only to be appointed to the Road Commission for three years. I then ran for county commissioner and won. This is my third term as county commissioner.

I’m 100 percent for the UP and will fight for the UP.

Craig Reiter, Schoolcraft County, Region 1 candidate

I have put in my name for the open Board seat in Region 1. For those who may not be familiar with me, I have been a commissioner for 12 years, six of which I served as Board chair.
Currently, I am the vice chair and finance chair, a role I enjoy. I have always been actively involved both inside and outside my county.

As a long-time member of several UP boards, including CAA (where I am the current chair), UPCAP (where I serve as the secretary on the executive board) and Hiawatha Behavioral Health (our local CMH), I have attended MAC conferences and served on various committees. Stepping up to the microphone and asking hard questions has never been a challenge for me. I am a strong advocate for the Upper Peninsula and will bring this voice to the MAC Board.

Additionally, I have been deeply engaged in our community mental health system for several years. Currently serving as the first vice president in the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA), I am in my second term. Frequent trips to Lansing for meetings allow me to connect with our legislators. Given the close collaboration between MAC and CMHA on critical issues, being on both boards will be a significant advantage.

I believe that serving in public office is just as vital to our country as my time in the Navy. As an elected official, I consider myself the voice of the people who elected me. In today’s political landscape, officials often fail to listen to their constituents. That’s why I consistently reach out to people and truly listen when they contact me. Everyone in Schoolcraft County deserves a safe and secure place to live and raise their families.

Bryan Kolk, Newaygo County, Region 2 candidate

I feel that I will be a particularly good candidate for the Region 2 seat because of my extensive history with MAC and county government.

Involvement with MAC: I am a current member of the MAC Board and have been very actively involved. I am a member of the MAC Judiciary and Public Safety Committee (7th year) and a member of the MAC General Government and Finance Committee (5th year). Also, I am a trustee for the Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund (6th year) and serve on the fund’s Safety Committee (2nd year). I am familiar with MAC’s 2024 legislative priorities and have the privilege of working directly on the policy platforms with the above committees.

County government: I began on the Newaygo County Board in 2017 and was elected as Board chair in 2019, a position I continue to hold. I’m proud to say the elected officials in Newaygo have an excellent rapport and working relationship. That is important in understanding the many nuances and how all of the different parts of government work together, which is so important as we face issues brought from other forms of government (local, state, federal) as well as the legal challenges from individuals, groups and businesses. We all have to work together in order to make counties run well.

Other county experience: I didn’t just happen to run for county commissioner. I do so after completing 32 years of service to Newaygo County as a deputy sheriff, where I held a number of different jobs within the department, all of which broadened my experience with not only the courts, dispatch and the Prosecutor’s Office, but also with almost all of the other county offices and many different state departments. My biggest strength in these interactions was in my ability to see different perspectives of the same issue and then discuss and come to a reasonable conclusion.

Other education: I hold an associate’s degree in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration.

I will appreciate your consideration and vote at the conference.

Rick Shaffer, St. Joseph County, Region 3 candidate

Rick Shaffer is a 40-year resident of St. Joseph County and is widely known for his active service in health care and county government activities.

As a current county commissioner, with over 20 years of service, he often refers to himself as the “historic voice of reason.” Widely known in St. Joseph County for his many years of advocacy for youth and senior programs, Shaffer, 69, is a Registered Nurse. He currently works as the director of the Outreach Patient Services (previous CEO) for Covered Bridge Healthcare (Federally Qualified Healthcare Center) in Centreville.

His five-decade career includes: funeral/ambulance service, pediatric nursing manager, nursing home administrator, 59th District State Representative and director of Three Rivers Home Care and Hospice. His participation on multiple county boards includes Community Mental Health (Pivotal), Centreville Downtown Development Authority, Community Action Agency, Commission on Aging, Area Agency on Aging (3B), St. Joseph County Planning and Parks and Recreation.

His community volunteerism includes Rotary (past president), the St. Joseph County United Way Board and Hope for Animals Board. He was named the Three Rivers Citizen of the Year by the Three Rivers Lions Club. Through his church, he has made 20 annual trips, taking students to support medical activities in dental, medical and optometric services in Haiti and/or the Dominican Republic.

Rick and his wife Sara are grandparents, raising their two preschool grandchildren.

“As residents of St. Joseph County, we are fortunate to have high quality lifestyle opportunities,” Shaffer said. “We have an abundance of services including business, industry, recreation, healthcare, and agribusiness. In addition, our seniors are able to take advantage of county-supported transportation.”

As a long-time county commissioner and former state representative, Shaffer has long been a supporter of MAC and the initiatives it provides to Michigan counties and its commissioners. He shares a desire to continue serving on the MAC Board of Directors, and pledges: “I will commit my time and broad-based career experiences to support the MAC Board that advances communication and cooperation between Michigan’s county governments and the state and federal governments.”

As a fulfillment of that promise, Shaffer’s current service to the MAC Board includes perfect Board attendance, participation and support of Advocacy Programs. In addition, he encouraged St. Joseph County to become members of NACo; he recently attended the 2024 NACo Conference where he serves on the Health Policy Steering Committee.

Sarah Lucido, Macomb County, Region 5 candidate

I am running for re-election to the MAC Board (Region 5, Seat B) because I want to continue to be an advocate for the vital work that we all do for our counties. I believe in promoting local control. I have learned so much since joining the Board about the issues that are affecting counties statewide. I know the importance of empowering counties to address these issues in ways that make sense for their residents, rather than settling for one size fits all policy making in Lansing.

Two years ago, I was elected to the 13th District on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. Before that, I spent seven years serving the residents of my community on Eastpointe’s City Council. Although I have lived my adult life in Macomb County, I spent a large part of my childhood living in Roscommon County and I have family ties that stretch across the northern Lower Peninsula. My husband and I own property in Crawford County, and we spend a significant amount of time there each year. While, certainly not unique, I believe that my experiences and personal ties across Michigan provide me with some added perspective on the diversity of our state. It has made me hungry to continue to learn more about the needs of both urban and rural Michigan.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming MAC conference. I am excited to continue working together to move Michigan forward.

Melissa Daub, Wayne County, At-large candidate

I am requesting your support in re-electing me for an at-large seat on the MAC Board of Directors. I was elected to the Wayne County Commission in November 2018, where I represent Wayne County’s 10th District, encompassing Canton Township, the city of Plymouth and a portion of Plymouth Township. I remain committed to giving the people of Plymouth-Canton a voice in county governance, as well as using my position to help advocate for and educate residents on the important role counties play.

I am a graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School and hold a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. I live in Canton with my son and my senior rescue dog, Toby. Prior to serving on the Wayne County Commission, I worked in the accounting field, with extensive experience in both leadership and individual contributor positions.

Shortly after becoming county commissioner, I joined MAC’s Transportation Committee. As the representative for two townships, county road funding is a very important issue to my district. One of my long-term goals is to fully understand how Act 51 works. In September of 2024, I am slated to become the President of MAC.

I am not only a strong advocate for Plymouth-Canton and Wayne County, but also for Michigan at the federal level through my participation within the National Association of Counties (NACo). I am a member of NACo’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Large Urban County Caucus. In April 2021, I completed NACo’s High Performance Leadership Course, which helped in furthering my government leadership capabilities. In 2024, I was chosen as one of the few county leaders to participate in the 19th annual County Leadership Institute.

On the Wayne County Commission, I am currently serving as chair of the Committee on Audit. I am also on the Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security and the Committee of Seniors and Veterans Affairs. Additionally, I have been appointed to the Wayne County Women’s Commission and the Joint Airport Zoning Board for Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

In addition to my state and federal leadership, I also place a strong focus on regional and local advocacy through my involvement within the following organizations: SEMCOG Healthy Climate Task Force, Michigan Workload Assessment Committee, Regional Review Committee (SEMCOG), Plymouth Rotary, Families Against Narcotics Advisory Board and Canton Township Chamber of Commerce Mast-HER-Mind Group (co-chair). I am also a program mentor within Canton Township’s Lead LikeAGirl and Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan.

I am incredibly passionate about serving as a county commissioner. Local government has an immediate impact on people’s lives, and I enjoy making positive changes in my community. People call us when a pothole needs to be filled or a traffic light needs to be installed, but we also handle serious emergencies. Counties were on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic and here in Wayne County, we are actively responding to the aftermath of the continuous flooding that impacts the lives and well-being of our residents.

Our day-to-day efforts are what make MAC important and indispensable. MAC unites all 83 counties to become one voice at the state and federal level. As a MAC Board member, I would continue to advocate for a more inclusive and engaged membership, aimed at increasing conference attendance and encouraging commissioners to serve on committees. These efforts would make our voice even stronger as we work on important issues that affect every county in Michigan.
Thank you for your consideration.

 

 

Legislative Update 8-23-24

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

UM institute releases ordinance template for renewable energy siting

A template ordinance for renewable energy facilities has been released by the University of Michigan. The Graham Sustainability Institute team, led by Dr. Sarah Mills, has created a sample Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) as well as guidance on “Workable” Renewable Energy Ordinances.

Mills has presented information on this topic in recent months via the MAC Legislative Conference, Podcast 83 and the June edition of Michigan Counties.

As many of you know, the new law for siting large-scale wind and solar projects takes effect in November. Each local unit of government with zoning authority must choose one of three paths forward:

  1. No ordinance: Do not adopt an ordinance and allow the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to site for all large-scale renewable energy projects.
  2. CREO: Adopt an ordinance that matches the standards outlined in the law exactly.
  3. Workable ordinance: Adopt an ordinance that deviates from state standards but is reasonable enough that a developer would want to work directly with the local unit of government rather than going through the MPSC.

MAC recommends that each local unit of government consults with legal counsel before determining its path; what is right for one community may not be so for another. Thankfully, U of M has provided resources on each option.

The MPSC has yet to share its final rules on implementing the new law so these documents may evolve with time but considering the approaching effective date, reviewing these materials now can help guide the planning process moving forward.

For questions on MAC’s advocacy on this issue, contact Madeline Fata at fata@micounties.org.

 

Celebrating International Overdose Awareness Day and National Recovery Month

August and September highlight a time to recognize the lives lost to drug overdose and celebrate recovery from substance use disorders.

Overdose Awareness Day is recognized internationally on Aug. 31 annually to raise awareness of drug overdose, stigma associated with overdose deaths and acknowledge grief experienced by families and friends remembering those lost and injured as a result of drug overdose. To find out more information, you can visit https://www.overdoseday.com/.

Recovery Month is recognized nationally throughout the month of September to promote new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the strength and resilience of the recovery community and highlight the providers and communities that support recovery from substance use disorders. To find out more information, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month.

MAC has created a proclamation template for both overdose awareness day and recovery month proclamation which counties can customize to highlight their commitment to addressing stigma and overdose, honoring the lives lost, celebrating those in recovery and sharing that recovery is possible.

For more information on MAC’s services on opioid settlement planning, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

FCC issues rule capping phone fees for jail inmates

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposed a ruling last month lowering the cost of jail and prison communications by capping the call rates for inmates to 6 to 12 cents per minute. 

The ruling states that call rates will be $0.06 per minute for prisons and large jails, $0.07 per minute for medium jails, $0.09 per minute for small jails, $0.12 per minute for very small jails and $0.11 per minute for video calls.

MAC and NACo have not yet taken a position on this ruling.

For more information, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org. 

 

MAC on the road: Grand Traverse and Kent counties

MAC’s Samantha Gibson and Madeline Fata attended a Grand Traverse County’s Board meeting on Aug. 21, which included a report from their opioid epidemic task force sharing their strategic plan and budget recommendations and approval of the FY24-25 Child Care Fund budget. After the meeting, the MAC duo met with (l-r) Commissioner Scott Sieffert, Administrator Nate Alger and Board Chair Rob Hentschel.

MAC also was in attendance on Aug. 22 when Kent County commissioners voted to amend its Lodging Excise Tax Ordinance. The board action increases the levy to 8 percent and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. After the session, MAC’s Gibson and Fata met with Commissioner Stan Ponstein (left) and Administrator Al Vanderberg.

 

Audits are focus of Sept. 5 webinar from Michigan Treasury

The Michigan Department of Treasury will hold its next “Chart Chat” webinar at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Click here to register and to submit questions prior to the event.

The Chart Chat webinar series provides local governments with critical information related to accounting and auditing topics, measuring local government fiscal health, and other important updates from Treasury.

Topics covered will include:

  • Are you prepared for your audit?
  • What happens to your audit after it gets to Treasury?  
  • How to file for an audit extension  
  • Pension and OPEB Monitoring (PA 202 of 2017)
  • FDCVT Grants FY 2025 

Presentations and recordings from this webinar, along with previous webinars, can be found at TREASURY – BLGSS Learning Center. For support related to Treasury’s local government services, visit TREASURY – Contact Information.

 

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