The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)

Legislative Update 3-28-25

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

In Lansing, dollars are up for roads, down for veterans

In this week’s episode, MAC’s Podcast 83 discusses the progress of a House GOP roads plan that is a “huge winner” for counties and a problem that has arisen in funding county veteran services grants.

“Road funding had some developments last week,” noted host Stephan Currie.

“The Michigan House of Representative passed out their road funding plan,” replied Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director. “That road funding plan is a huge winner for county road systems across the state.

“Looking at the estimates that were put out by the House Fiscal Agency on that distribution, it’s at least, at a minimum, a 97 percent increase in road funding for each county. …

“I will say we’re still waiting on a proposal by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,” Bosworth added, “and we’re also waiting on a proposal from the Michigan Senate. I anticipate that it will be a combined proposal, and it will be similar to what the House passed out, but not exactly. I anticipate the Senate and the governor to recommend some revenue increases so that we’re not looking at such a potential decrease in the state’s General Fund.”

By contrast, the cash is not flowing quickly to counties trying to serve military veterans.

“Something we’ve kind of heard about from some counties recently is about veteran grants,” Currie said. “Some of these grants that may have been incorrectly calculated by the state and causing some problems locally?”

“These are veterans grants for the fiscal year 25, which started last Oct. 1,” Bosworth replied. “What we understand is the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs last October said, ‘Hey, counties, thanks for applying for your veteran service grants. Everything’s great. This is how much money you’re going to get.’

“Come to find out, on Feb.18, the department had to do a recalculation of the funds … They notify counties, and some of them are getting a 60 percent to 70 percent decrease in the amount,” Bosworth said.

“They had a hearing on it last week in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs and legislators were not happy at all. After that committee meeting, I got a phone call from Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) … and she let me know that she’s absolutely looking for an additional appropriation to try and keep counties whole for fiscal year 25 so she’s out there trying to figure out how to make this right.”

To view the full episode, recorded on March 24, 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.

 

NACo issues alert about federal intentions on ARPA funds

The U.S. Treasury states that the agency intends to enhance compliance checks on the obligation data submitted by counties as part of its efforts to ensure taxpayer funds are used in accordance with program requirements. Treasury intends to recoup funds obligated or expended impermissibly and to recapture funds that were not obligated by the deadline. Counties that are deemed noncompliant will receive “Information Document Requests.”

Treasury also will begin sending “Financial Instructions to Return Unobligated Funds” to counties that did not fully obligate their award funds by the Dec. 31, 2024, deadline, based on the latest data available to Treasury. These instructions will:

  • Inform the county how much it owes, based on its most recently submitted report.
  • Provide a date by which funds must be repaid.
  • Require recipients to use Pay.gov to process the repayments.

If a county does not repay amounts owed by the specified date, Treasury will establish a debt and follow standard debt collection policy and procedures in coordination with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Interest and penalties will accrue once the debt is established.

Instructions can be found below about how to submit a report:

If a county is having issues with the Treasury portal or has received a noncompliance email, but believes it is in compliance, it should provide the full name, county name and Treasury case number to:

Eryn Hurley
Managing Director, Government Affairs & NACo Federal Fellowship Initiative
NACo
ehurley@naco.org
202-942-4204

 

Capital planning is focus of April 10 fiscal webinar

The Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) are reminding you 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 with entry and intermediate level budgeting knowledge.

Capital Asset Management and Planning

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.

Date/Time: April 10, 2025, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Click here to register.

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.

 

Staff picks

 

 

Legislative Update 3-21-25

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

House approves $3.1 billion road plan backed by MAC

MAC’s Deena Bosworth joined Ed Noyola of the County Road Association this week in testifying for a GOP roads plan before a House committee.

The Michigan House sent a comprehensive road funding plan to the Senate this week. The plan, which MAC testified in favor of this week, is designed to provide sustainable and long-term funding for road maintenance and repair, a critical issue as Michigan faces a looming “funding cliff” when the last of the $3.5 billion in transportation bonds from 2019 is exhausted.

Here’s an overview of the proposed legislative changes and the impacts they could have on Michigan’s road funding system:

Increased motor fuel taxes

Under House Bill 4183, the state increases the taxes levied on motor fuel. Currently, gasoline and diesel are taxed at 31 cents per gallon, with annual adjustments for inflation. The new proposal, effective Oct. 1, 2025, would raise the tax to 51 cents. This rate would be further adjusted for inflation starting Jan. 1, 2026. The increased revenue would be used to fund road maintenance and infrastructure repair.

Sales tax exemptions

HBs 4180 and 4185 modify sales tax policies to allocate more funds to transportation. Starting Oct. 1, 2025, the retail sale of motor fuel and aviation fuel would be exempt from the sales tax. This exemption would free up additional revenue for road purposes. HB 4185 directs $775 million to backfill the School Aid Fund and $95 million to support constitutional revenue sharing for cities, villages and townships.

Allocating the money

HB 4187 introduces a significant shift in the distribution of revenue collected under the Corporate Income Tax and other business taxes. Starting in fiscal 2026, up to $2.2 billion would be allocated to road agencies. The distributions would work like this:

FYs 2026-2030

Total CIT Earmark $2.2 billion

  • 90 percent to local road agencies:
    • Neighborhood Road Fund, $375M
    • County road commissions, $883M
    • Cities/villages, $722M
  • Total to local road agencies: $1.98 billion
  • 10 percent to State Trunkline Fund: $220 million

FY 2031 and beyond

Total CIT Earmark $2.2 billion

  • 90 percent to local road agencies:
    • Neighborhood Road Fund, $275M
    • County road commissions, $938M
    • Cities/villages, $767M
  • Total to local road agencies: $1.98 billion
  • 10 percent to State Trunkline Fund: $220 million

Creating a Neighborhood Road Fund

HB 4230 establishes the Neighborhood Road Fund, which will receive a portion of the revenue from HB 4187. Between 2025-2029, $100 million annually would be earmarked for the repair of closed, restricted, and critical bridges, with the Local Bridge Advisory Board overseeing the spending. The remaining funds in the Neighborhood Road Fund would be distributed to county and city/village road agencies based on the proportional share of road mileage they maintain.

The distribution formula ensures equitable access to funds, with each county road commission guaranteed $100,000, and the rest divided based on the total mileage of local roads. These funds can only be used for preservation, maintenance, and preventative care of local road systems, ensuring the longevity of infrastructure and reducing future costs. 

Where MAC stands

MAC testified in support of the nine-bill package this week, though also expressing caution about the effect these shifts will have on the state’s General Fund and the potential impact on revenue counties receive from the state for many operations.

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

 

Podcast 83: In Lansing, all roads lead to roads right now

In their newest legislative update, MAC’s Podcast 83 team again took a deep dive into the no. 1 issue in Lansing right now: roads.

“Huge talk in Lansing is about an influx of dollars into the local road system,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director. “The vast majority of the money that they’re talking about right now (would be) going to county roads, then to city roads and, lastly, to (the Michigan Department of Transportation).

“It’s about a $3 billion package,” Bosworth continued, “They’ve carved out a little bit of money for bridges. I want to say a little. We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, but money for bridges, money for county road systems, money for city road systems and then some money for actually township roads, too, so that they don’t necessarily have to come up with a big match on the design part of the projects, where county roads are or where the county is responsible for the roads.”

MAC testified in support of the package in a House committee on Tuesday, Bosworth noted, joining such groups as the Michigan Municipal League and the County Road Association in support.

“(W)e’re slightly concerned about what some of this decrease in General Fund (to finance the road investment) will mean later down the road, but again, you can’t really look a gift horse in the mouth with your $1.4 billion additional every year going into the county road system,” she said.

In other news, Jimmy Johnson gave an update on work for a permanent fix for trial court funding: “(The Legislature) created the Trial Court Funding Act of 2024, which is requiring the Supreme Court Administrative Office, under the direction and supervision of the Supreme Court, to analyze and determine these certain costs and revenues that trial courts are working on. So that sunset right now and for them to have that report completed and presented to everyone is going to be May 1, 2026.”

As part of this work, Johnson said, there is a Funding Distribution Team: “Now this group is going to be charged with recommending a plan to establish the Trial Court Fund, and that’s going to be designed to centralize all the generated revenue from the trial courts.

“Their most recent update was that they held a vote on which functions currently receive money from court assessments, and what should be considered court operations and therefore continue to receive money from court assessments via the Trial Court Fund. They were able to reach a consensus, it says, on two-thirds of the votes. Now, again, we don’t know exactly what those are. We’re basically getting kind of like a high level ‘this is what we’re discussing.’”

To view the full episode, recorded on March 18, 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.

 

Michigan Judicial Council gives update on trial court funding

This 2023 chart shows the existing breakdown of trial court funding in Michigan.

This week, the Michigan Judicial Council released a status update from their Alternative Funding for Trial Courts implementation teams. These teams are responsible for making recommendations on a permanent funding model for trial courts. The four implementation teams are focused on:

  1. Operational Costs Funding Model
  2. Funding Distribution
  3. Uniform Assessments and Indigency Determination
  4. Collections Systems

The Operational Costs Funding Model team is tasked with developing the financial plan for Michigan’s trial courts under the new funding model. This includes determining and recommending appropriate funding levels for each trial court.

One key issue they are currently working on is whether the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) should be static or adjusted periodically, and what triggers an adjustment once the MOE is established. This is an important area to watch, as it could have a direct financial impact on counties. A complete concept paper on this issue will be finalized by the end of April.

Meanwhile, a Funding Distribution Implementation Team is responsible for recommending a plan to establish a Trial Court Fund. This fund would centralize all revenue generated by trial courts and create a process for redistributing court-generated revenue back to the courts.

In its latest update, the funding team voted on which functions currently receiving money from court assessments should continue to receive funding via the Trial Court Fund. The team reached a two-thirds consensus on all but three of the funds under consideration. These recommendations will be presented to the entire workgroup at its April meeting. For the funds the team did not reach a consensus on, they will present two options for consideration, along with arguments from both sides.

At this time, MAC does not have full details on what the Funding Distribution Team agreed or disagreed on, as we only received a general update from the workgroup. We will continue to closely follow this process.

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

 

MAC launches annual Opioid Settlement Funds Survey

The Michigan Association of Counties, in partnership with Public Sector Consultants, is conducting the second annual opioid settlement county reporting survey on opioid settlement funds.

The survey allows MAC to:

  • Update the Opioid Settlement Resource Center dashboard
  • Understand annual reporting information on the planning for, and utilization of, opioid settlement funds
  • Provide useful technical assistance for counties

Following the survey, the MAC Opioid Settlement Center dashboard will be updated and a report will be created to share about efforts taking place across the state. To see the report from the first annual opioid settlement county reporting survey, see the Michigan Opioid Settlement County Reporting: Data Overview – June 2024.

For additional information or no-cost technical assistance, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Celebrate National County Government Month in April

National County Government Month (NCGM), held each April, is an annual celebration of county government. Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged counties to actively promote county roles and responsibilities in serving residents.  

Through participating in NCGM, your county can:

  • Champion the county workforce (Michigan counties collectively employ more than 40,000 people from Monroe to Gogebic)
  • Boost civic engagement and strengthen connections between government and residents
  • Raise public awareness of programs and services provided to the community

In 2024, MAC arranged with Rep. Julie Rogers, a former Kalamazoo County commissioner and MAC Board member, for a House resolution in support of NCGM.

A sample proclamation, sample press release, celebration ideas, social media resources and more can be found at https://bit.ly/CountyMonth2025

And please share your NCGM events and news with MAC by emailing Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

 

MSHDA announces new process to reserve CDBG funds through MI Neighborhood

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is pleased to announce a new streamlined process to reserve Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds. The CDBG Program, funded through MI Neighborhood, is expanding eligible activities and increasing the maximum funding amount a unit of local government can request up to $1.5 million.

Letters of Intent, the first step of the process to reserve funding, are now being accepted. CDBG funds are available to non-entitlement units of general local government — cities, towns, townships, villages, or counties not currently receiving a direct allocation of CDBG funds from HUD. A reference map can be found on our website. 

MSHDA is currently accepting LOI for funding from eligible Units of General Local Government (UGLG) for proposals that meet the housing objectives of the CDBG Program. These letters will be used to establish eligible projects. If approved, grantees will receive a reservation memo reserving funds, as a formal application and CDBG compliance steps are completed.

To be considered for funding, submit a LOI form online via the MI Neighborhood CDBG page or print and mail LOI submissions (via overnight mail only) to the attention of MSHDA NDD, 735 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912. 

To learn more about the process, MSHDA is hosting a Q&A session on April 3 at 10 a.m.:

Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 265 746 348 873
Passcode: zC6gg9Mx

All submissions must be stamped/submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2025.

After submission, you may be contacted for a consultation prior to reservation of funds.

Submit any questions to MSHDA-CDBG@michigan.gov.

 

University uses MAC work as basis for national guidance on opioid funds

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has released national transparency guidance, A Principles Quick Guide on Transparency for Opioid Settlement Fund Management. Amy Dolinky, MAC’s technical adviser on opioid settlements, worked with Hopkins to develop the guidance, which is adapted from MAC’s Transparency, Monitoring and Accountability Guidance Document.

Dolinky also authored a blog post on the new guidance highlighting why transparency matters and the importance of incorporating transparency across planning and spending efforts associated with settlement funds.

The guidance focuses on three key areas for considering transparency: planning, funding, and monitoring, and then suggests reflecting on what has been done and refining the transparency work as needed. Throughout each phase of work, three universal considerations should also be incorporated: community inclusion, conflict of interest management, and the establishment of a centralized information platform.

For more information or for technical assistance with opioid settlement planning and spending, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Staff picks

Legislative Update 3-14-25

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

GOP road proposal with big county bucks gets House committee hearing

A House Republican plan that could mean a nearly $1.5 billion boost for county road accounts received its first committee review this week.

The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4180-87, which would boost road spending by $3 billion annually, with a focus on improving local roads, an area long highlighted as a priority by Michigan’s local governments.

The plan consists of several key components designed to dedicate significant revenue for infrastructure while ensuring that the plan is sustainable and balanced. Notably, part of the plan would exempt fuel from the state sales tax, while simultaneously raising the fuel tax in a revenue-neutral manner. This approach is aimed at maintaining the overall fiscal impact of the plan, without creating an additional burden on drivers.

One of the most significant aspects of the plan is altering the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) and reversing certain earmarks that were previously allocated for corporate income tax reductions. Instead of these earmarks, the funds would be redirected toward road improvements, providing a crucial boost to the state’s road repair and maintenance efforts.

The proposed restructuring would direct approximately $1.44 billion into the county road system and an additional $1.08 billion toward city roads. MAC has expressed interest in the plan, highlighting that local roads have long been underfunded and need significant attention.

While the House Republican plan has garnered significant interest from MAC, there is also a competing proposal being championed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which aims to provide a comprehensive and long-term solution for Michigan’s road funding needs. The governor’s plan is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and will likely influence future discussions on road funding.

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

 

Podcast 83: Is it big-money time for counties on roads?

A Republican road funding proposal that could mean a whopping $1.44 billion in new county road dollars was the focus of this week’s episode of Podcast 83.

“If (the House GOP plan) goes through, it would mean a significant influx of dollars into the county road system,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director.

“What the bills basically do is they allocate the gas tax, the tax on that you pay at the gas pump, and the sales tax, turn that into a gas tax, and then dedicate all of that revenue to the roads,” she explained.

“Counties will get about $340 million of that revenue to go toward their roads,” Bosworth said. “But, in addition to that, they’re also talking about taking General Fund dollars and switching around some business taxes, finding some savings elsewhere and then putting an additional $1.1 billion into the county road system, which is a huge windfall.”

Of course, there’s a potential catch: “The only thing that we might be concerned about is the hit that it’s going to take on the state’s General Fund,” Bosworth noted. “Counties are reliant on a lot of General Fund appropriations: our revenue sharing, our court funding or what goes to public health departments. … So, we’ll have to wait and see … if the state’s going to really be able to balance the budget, still maintain all of those priorities and do this huge influx into the roads.”

Also in the episode:

Bosworth noted the need for counties to keep wary eye on state budget politics this year after passage of an “essentials” budget in the Michigan House that would cut into revenue sharing: “It’s definitely not what we want to see … on revenue sharing, because what they did was they take that $30 million that we were getting in those adjusted taxable value payments for revenue sharing. … In fiscal year 25, it’s $30 million they did not include that in their budget (for fiscal 2026). And then they took the base revenue sharing amount, which we were getting $261 million of, and dropped that down to $256 million … This is a long budget process, and we know the Senate was not happy with what came over. So, I think it just is more setting the stage, doing the infighting, before we get to actually down to figuring out what the real budget is going to be.”

Governmental Affairs Specialist Jimmy Johnson discussed MAC’s activities at the 2025 National Association of Counties’ Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.: “Sen. (Gary) Peters (D-Michigan) was very gracious with his time (at a MAC-arranged briefing). And one big thing that he touched on was the Selfridge Air Base and how important that is,” Johnson said.

To view the full episode, recorded on March 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.

 

Expansion of indigent defense to juveniles clears committee

Juvenile defendants would receive help through the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) under a bill backed by the House Judiciary Committee this week.

The committee took testimony from MIDC Executive Director Kristen Staley and Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson) in support of House Bill 4070, which aims to expand the scope of the commission to include juvenile defense.

The bill would:

  • Increase the number of members on the MIDC from 18 to 19, with the additional member being an expert in juvenile defense, thus ensuring the commission will have specialized expertise in juvenile justice
  • Amend the funding disbursement system to an initial 40 percent payment, followed by three 20 percent payments (the current system is an initial 50% and two 25% payments)

MAC currently has concerns with the proposed disbursement model, as well as the MIDC having the authority to determine indigency. We are currently working with legislators on these technical changes as the bill moves to the House floor.

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

 

Juvenile transport bill advances out of House

A bill to allow juvenile offenders who are 16 or older to be transported with adult offenders under the age of 25, if they are taken into custody at the same time for the same crime or if they were involved in the offense together, gained House approval this week.

Under House Bill 4018, by Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Genesee), a juvenile in these situations still would be separated from the adult offender as soon as possible. Proponents argue this would save time and resources, easing the burden on law enforcement agencies.

After the 74-34 vote in the House, the bill, supported by MAC and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, moves to the Senate.

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

 

State provides resources on sick time transition

On Feb. 21, Michigan’s new Earned Sick Time Act went into effect. This new law allows for increased flexibility for workers to earn paid sick leave. The new reforms will be phased in over time, giving small businesses time to adjust. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has developed resources to help both workers and businesses understand the changes. Visit their website to:

 

Dolinky rejoins MAC in opioids role

Dolinky

Amy Dolinky has returned to MAC’s staff in her prior role as technical adviser, opioid settlement funds planning and capacity building. Dolinky originally filled that role in 2022 but departed MAC at the end of 2024 to explore other opportunities.

Prior to joining MAC, she served as a Senior Program Manager, Overdose Data to Action with the CDC Foundation and as the Senior Adviser of Michigan’s Opioid Strategy with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, Dolinky served as the Substance Misuse Response Coordinator, leading strategic planning around substance use with Knox County government in Tennessee.

“We could not be happier that Amy has rejoined us,” said MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie. “Her work in this field is nationally recognized and her expertise will continue to be a major benefit to our members.”

Dolinky holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration with a focus on global health from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Loyola University New Orleans.

Members with questions on opioid settlement issues may contact Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Ag Department issues tips on preventing bird flu spread

Michigan has been battling highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a.k.a. bird flu, for over three years. The virus has heavily impacted our backyard and commercial poultry farmers, increased the price of eggs, and, in March of 2024, crossed over into Michigan’s dairy cattle. While the virus is primarily spread by migratory wild birds, it can also be moved to new areas by people on their shoes, clothes, car tires, and more. Anyone has the potential to spread HPAI, particularly if they move between farming locations on the same day.

HPAI is a virus found among various species of wild and domestic birds. The disease can infect domestic poultry, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.

The virus has even been detected in various wild and domestic species of mammals – including dairy cattle and poultry – presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds or materials contaminated by infected animals.

So, how can you help stop the spread of bird flu? These risk reduction measures, otherwise known as biosecurity, include:

  • As much as possible, wearing rubber boots and using a disinfectant like a boot wash or using disposable shoe covers. Remember the virus can be moved on clothes and shoes.
  • Spraying vehicle tires with disinfectant at a property’s entrance and when exiting as well as adhering to any biosecurity signs and procedures.
  • Parking in an area in the sun and on a hard surface (like gravel or cement), as much as possible.
  • Bringing only the tools, equipment, or materials that are essential, and disinfecting them in between uses.
  • Following good hand washing and cleansing practices. Wash hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 15 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

The HPAI virus can survive longer under cold and wet conditions (weeks to months) than under warm, dry conditions (hours to days). Being mindful of how the virus can spread and preventing that transmission is fundamental to being able to curb its impact and protect both animal and human health throughout the state.

For more information on HPAI, please visit www.michigan.gov/birdflu.

 

Recycling conference offers plenty for county leaders

As your county revises its materials management plans according to Part 115, do you find yourself with more questions than answers? Address these concerns at Michigan’s largest annual recycling conference May 13-15.

The Michigan Recycling Coalition’s 43rd Annual Conference provides a variety of opportunities for attendees to share and learn recycling best practices. This year’s conference is in Muskegon and features expert-led sessions addressing critical issues impacting county leaders, including recycling for multi-family housing, expanding organics recovery programs, setting planning goals and reducing construction waste.

Enjoy exceptional networking activities with other county and municipal leaders. Sign up for tour packages and volunteer activities to witness firsthand how recycling and composting operations function.

Click here to learn and register today.

 

NACo invites applications for 2025 Achievement Awards

Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.

If you are ready to begin your application, click here to access the application portal. In addition, you can use the portal to view, edit and submit previously saved applications.

Email awards@naco.org for additional assistance.

Applications are due March 31, 2025.

 

Utility foundation seeks contest entries from rural communities

Counties and municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents may have a chance at $25,000 to “put your community on the map” under a contest from the Consumers Energy Foundation.

To be eligible for “Put Your Town on the Map,” an entry must be:

  • From rural municipalities with a population up to 10,000
  • From a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or municipality
  • Community-focused (no individuals, businesses, corporations or LLCs)
  • An idea that is conceptual or in the startup phase (previously attempted projects not allowed)
  • From territory that is served by Consumers Energy

Only one submission can come from any given municipality.

Submission deadline is March 28. For more details, see the contest flier.

 

Legislative Update 3-7-25

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

House passes stripped-down FY26 budget in shutdown maneuver

In a preemptive move to ensure essential government functions continue in the event of a state budget impasse that lingers through the Oct. 1, 2025, start of the next fiscal year, the Michigan House of Representatives voted for a stripped-down Fiscal 2026 budget this week. The measure, House Bill 4161, by House Appropriations Chair Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Livingston), is designed, say majority Republicans, to keep “essential” services going.

The bill focuses on the Department of Corrections, K-12 education and revenue sharing for local governments. However, the legislation, which was substituted on the House floor this week without prior notice, includes controversial cuts that have drawn immediate concern from MAC. Among the provisions is a 1.9 percent reduction in county revenue sharing, coupled with the elimination in FY26 of the $30 million in taxable valuation payments that counties received in FY25.

HB 4161 advanced to the Senate on a near party-line vote. However, MAC does not expect the Senate to embrace the House’s version of the partial budget, setting the stage for further negotiations and potential revisions.

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

 

Counties are biggest winner in House GOP’s $3 billion road plan

Michigan counties stand to gain huge new resources for infrastructure under a road plan unveiled by the Republican majority in the Michigan House this week.

Embodied in House Bills 4180-87, the plan would eliminate the sales tax on fuel purchases and replace it with an equivalent increase in the gas tax, ensuring all taxes paid at the pump are exclusively dedicated to road funding.

While the proposal prioritizes road improvements, it also results in a reduction in revenue for the state’s General Fund, constitutional revenue sharing and the School Aid Fund. However, the plan includes provisions to hold schools harmless financially in this shift.

The gas tax revenue generated would be distributed through the existing Public Act 51 formula, leading to the following estimates:

  • $340 million to the county road system
  • $340 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
  • $200 million for city roads

The plan also proposes an infusion of $2.2 billion from the Corporate Income Tax to further support local road infrastructure, with estimated distributions as follows:

  • $1.1 billion for county roads
  • $880 million for city roads
  • $220 million to MDOT

While schools are protected from funding reductions under this plan, city, village, and township constitutional revenue sharing allocations will face cuts. Counties, which do not receive constitutional revenue sharing, are not directly affected in this regard but will see a substantial increase in road funding under the proposed plan.

This funding shift underscores a commitment to addressing Michigan’s longstanding infrastructure challenges, ensuring taxes collected at the pump directly benefit road maintenance and construction. The concern is that fewer dollars for the General Fund could shrink statutory revenue sharing for counties, making it all the more critical that the Legislature adopt MAC’s plan for a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.

MAC will closely examine the implications of these proposals. The debate over balancing road investment with broader state and local fiscal responsibilities is expected to shape the conversation in the coming weeks.

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

 

Sen. Gary Peters chuckles as he is introduced by MAC Board President Melissa Daub of Wayne County at a special briefing arranged by MAC on March 4 on Capitol Hill.

(L-R) Commissioners Sarah Lucido (Macomb), Antoinette Wallace (Macomb), Rick Shaffer (St. Joseph) and Stan Ponstein (Kent) met with Rep. John James on March 4.

(L-R): Commissioners Phil Kuyers (Ottawa), William Miller (Oakland), Doug Zylstra (Ottawa) and Stan Ponstein (Kent) pose with Rep. Hillary Scholten (center) outside her D.C. office.

(L-R): Commissioners Jeannette Snyder (Midland), Larry Schuelke (Midland), Rick Shaffer (St. Joseph), Stan Ponstein (Kent) and Alaynah Smith (Midland, far right) met with Rep. John Moolenaar (back center).

Peters briefing, Capitol Hill visits, Wayne candidacy mark 2025 NACo Legislative Conference

A special briefing by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and visits with members of Michigan’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill were among the highlights for the MAC-led contingent at the 2025 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Legislative Conference.

Also, during the event, at a reception put on by MAC, Wayne County Chair Alisha Bell talked to her state colleagues about her candidacy for second vice president of NACo this year. That election will be held at the NACo Annual Conference this summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

More than 60 county leaders heard Sen. Peters talk about infrastructure and the importance of Selfridge Airbase, plus counties’ role in lobbying on federal issues.

The NACo event each year draws on the local experiences and expertise of commissioners from the 3,069 U.S. counties to craft policy initiatives for Congress and federal regulators.

MAC staffers also guided members to visits with Michigan Reps. Hillary Scholten, John Moolenaar and John James in their Capitol Hill offices.

“What I think resonated most was Sen. Peters’ remarks in the Dirksen Building about the need for county officials to be more involved in advocacy on federal issues,” said Stephan W. Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties. “Counties are a strong and necessary partner for the federal government to ensure the development and implementation of common-sense solutions for public challenges.”

To learn more about MAC’s federal policy priorities in 2025, click here.

 

Podcast 83: What did MAC think of 2025 State of State

Could 2025 bring a major infrastructure investment and a burst of bipartisanship in Lansing? MAC’s Podcast 83 team divines the tea leaves inside of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2025 State of the State speech in their newest episode.

“I thought it was her best speech to date,” said Deena Bosworth. “It was a different tone. It … sounded like a leader. … This one, she had reached out across the aisle, talked a ton about bipartisanship and getting things done.”

On getting action on roads:

“Both the governor and (House Speaker Matt Hall) have talked about removing the sales tax on gasoline, devoting that money to roads as part of their plans,” said host Stephan Currie. “Haven’t heard much about what happens to those? How do you backfill those dollars? Because the sales tax on gasoline goes to local governments, in the form of constitutional revenue sharing; it goes to schools. … Anytime sales tax gets removed from something, there is an indirect concern on our part because of the statutory revenue side of things. And as we’re talking about Revenue Sharing Trust Fund and solidifying those dollars, there is an indirect impact there.

“That’s why, I think those road funding discussions and our role in being part of that, not only advocating for increased road funding at the local level, but what happens when that sales tax gets cut? Right?”

To view the full episode, recorded on Feb. 27, 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 ‘Life of Commissioner” brochures are still available

MAC continues to offer to members its “Life of a County Commissioner” brochure. About 600 remain, which MAC will provide, first come, first served, to members to use at civic club appearances, school visits and the like. The brochure was the brainchild of former MAC Board President Jim Storey of Allegan County.

We do ask member counties to limit their requests to 25, though.

Send any request for brochures to Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

 

March 10 webinar tackles ‘budgeting for sustainability’

The Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan State University Extension will co-host the next Fiscally Ready Communities training opportunity on March 10 at 2 p.m. This FREE training is a 90-minute webinar that’s designed to assist appointed and elected officials with entry and intermediate level budgeting knowledge.

Click here to register.

Budgeting for Fiscal Sustainability

  • The budget process and communicating your budget
  • Dealing with uncertainty in a changing economy
  • Understanding key financial variables, such as:
    • The “rainy day fund”/fund balance/net position
    • Understanding how the tax base provides revenue
    • Understanding volatile revenue
    • Forecasting revenue and expenditures
  • How to track your budget performance, including reviewing and amending your budget
  • How spending in the present will have an impact on the future.

For more information about Fiscally Ready Communities, visit Treasury’s Fiscally Ready Communities webpage. Here you can find the 32-page Fiscally Ready Communities Best Practices document giving local officials best practices on policies and procedures to enhance financial management, including cash controls, capital improvement planning, ethics policies, and internal controls.

If you have any questions, please email TreasLocalGov@michigan.gov with the subject line “Fiscally Ready.”

 

Staff picks

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.

 

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