NACo applauds county leaders’ help on federal aid bill

US Capitol

Much still must be clarified about the latest federal relief package awaiting House action before its full effects on counties are known, said officials with the National Association of Counties via a briefing call on Thursday, March 26.

NACo leaders, however, were pleased with the inclusion of the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund included in the $2 trillion Senate-approved package that’s aimed at state, local and tribal governments.

Deborah Cox of NACo was able to state that:

• 45 percent of the $150 billion is eligible for direct payments to local units with populations above 500,000; and
• Such funds were meant for recent expenditures due to the public health emergency and unanticipated costs to local budgets that occurred on March 1 or after.

In Michigan, though, only four counties (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent) exceed the population threshold.

Cox and the NACo briefers said clarity was needed about aid to smaller counties and that there already were “100 different interpretations” of what the relief fund language actually meant.

Cox praised the calls from local county officials during the drafting process for helping to ensure counties would be specifically included in the relief fund.

Also critical is that under the economic stabilization sections of the bill, the U.S. Treasury can purchase debt from state and local units, while the Federal Reserve can participate in the secondary bond market for municipal debt, thereby reducing borrowing costs for counties.

Other key elements to the “CARES” Act identified in the call:

• $1.32 billion is allotted to community health centers for COVID response – “a definite win for counties,” NACo said
• Previously planned cuts to hospitals serving the uninsured and underinsured were pushed back to Nov. 30
• $1 billion for agencies for aging to help them deliver meals, provide home-based services, support care-givers and provide equipment nursing homes to protect residents
• $400 million for election assistance in the 2020 cycle
• $56 million for airports in the Essential Air Service program
• $5 billion for CDBG
• $45 billion for FEMA disaster relief fund

NACo’s comprehensive analysis of the bill can be found here. As for eventual timing of the funds, the House passed the bill on Friday afternoon, President Trump is expected to sign it later today.

MAC COVID-19 Resources Page

MAC Q&A Document for State Leaders

Special note from MAC

To all leaders and employees of Michigan’s 83 county governments, we at MAC, your association, extend our deepest appreciation and thanks for your service in this unprecedented crisis for our nation and world. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time for assistance. We will do everything in our power to help you keep your communities and families safe.

Stephan Currie
Executive Director

MAC convenes countywide elected officials to discuss COVID response and challenges

Earlier this week, MAC Executive Director Steve Currie and MAC President Veronica Klinefelt of Macomb County hosted a conference call with representatives from the organizations representing sheriffs, prosecutors, treasurers, clerks, register of deeds, administrators and local public health departments.

Megan Swain from the Michigan Association of Local Public Health gave an update on their response to the virus, the number of private labs online now and on the number of cases in the state. She also informed the group that she has daily calls between her organization, her members and the various state departments that interact with local public health departments. Her members are working to trace the spread of the virus, notifying people of potential exposure and the need for quarantine. They are still responsible for investigating other diseases and food borne illnesses.

MAC shared with the group our communication channel with the governor’s office and their request to have MAC field all county questions to minimize the number of individual calls to their office. Rest assured, MAC is in constant communication with the governor’s office and will get information out to the entire county family as soon as we get it.  MAC also alerted the participants of our resources on our website that can be found here. 

Many county departments have gone to a reduced staff, rotating work schedules and services by appointment only. The sheriffs have stopped all in-person visits to the jails, although most court operations are still functioning, excepting those hearings that can easily be postponed. 

As far as elections are concerned, local governments are being asked to defer any May elections to August. If that is not possible, then absentee ballots will likely be the only way to vote in a May election. 

The governor has issued Executive Order 2020-14 to provide a temporary extension of the deadline to redeem property for nonpayment of delinquent taxes from March 31 to May 29, 2020. Local units and counties will still face challenges when it comes to handling challenges to property assessments since a local board of review will likely be suspending their hearings.

MAC stands ready to assist our members and our entire county family during this state of emergency. For more information, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

Navigating the new world of remote meetings

MAC is consulting with a variety of experts on resources that counties can use to operate public board sessions that comply with the governor’s Executive Order modifying the Open Meetings Act.

We are aiming to provide lists, best practices and tips to members early next week.

Key legal points

• The EO expires on April 15 unless the Legislature votes to extend it.
• Compliance with the EO must include general public participation.
• Public participation must be 2-way – the public must be able to hear the public and officials.
• You can allow typed and read comments IN ADDITION to verbal comments, not in place of them.
• Closed sessions still allowed under OMA rules; it is recommended that you have a separate secure conference call line for those.
• Give advance notice – a recommended minimum of 18 hours.
• Place such notice on your homepage or via a prominent link on your homepage.
• Notices should list the reasons for electronic sessions and all details on how public can participate, including the disabled.
• Taping is allowed for the public for any reason; you can set rules on disruptions, but you can’t exclude people except for a breach of the peace.
• You are advised to do roll call votes on everything.
• You are advised to share agenda and board packets on website in advance.
• Be sure you do not use texts or emails among board members for sidebar communications.
• The EO prevails over any charter, ordinance or local rule.
• All recordkeeping provisions stay in effect under OMA.

Key technical points

Any solution must provide for:

• 2-way communication with public
• Access without registration
• Disabled participation (closed captioning, etc.)
• Toll-free or local phone lines if using calls

Zoom and GotoMeeting are seen as good options that would help local boards comply with the EO.

For more information, contact MAC at 517-372-5374.

 

Update on federal appropriations on coronavirus

During a briefing call Thursday evening, NACo staff detailed the current activity in Washington on local funding on the coronavirus crisis:

Third supplemental (CARES ACT)

A package possibly could be to president’s desk for signature by Sunday night (March 22).

A Senate plan released Thursday evening includes direct cash payments to certain individuals, small business loan relief and additional health care spending. More information to be found at this link.

NACo advised that all counties need to be pushing the message for continuing funding for our public health departments. Cost estimates are coming in regularly but keep sending them to NACo. We must have resources now AND be thinking about this fall and the fall of 2021.

NACo has provided a downloadable letter  https://naco.sharefile.com/share/view/s6c093fe3fa14a47a you can customize and send to congressional leadership.

First supplemental

The first supplemental included $8.2 billion and a focus of $950 million for Local Public Health, which will go to the states and then to counties. Encourage your Local Public Health team to communicate with their counterparts.

Second supplemental

The second supplemental was signed on Wednesday (Family First Coronavirus Act). It includes:

• Free COVID testing, regardless of insurance status
• Nutrition assistance for food banks
• Unemployment assistance
• Medicaid contribution increase
• FMAP increase by 6.2%

NACo advised that members should be sure to read the second passed version since there were substantial changes from the first draft. NACo is asking HR directors and consultants to review because a patchwork of state laws and regulations related to this. The law mandates 10 weeks of paid leave, but that is limited only to workers caring for a child where schools and child care have shut down.

For updated information on national events, visit NACo’s page.

 

Communicating during a long crisis

As the current situation with coronavirus points toward a longer disruption of normal activities, county leaders are advised to consider their terminology in reporting on changes to county services.

 

Suspension > closure

 

As counties work through how they will operate going forward, we advise the use of “suspension” over “closure” when referring to public access to offices and buildings. For example, “Public access to the office is suspended, but citizens can contact county staff at 123-4567 for assistance.”

 

The federal government has issued initial guidance regarding a “critical infrastructure workforce”:

 

“We recognize that state, local, tribal and territorial governments are ultimately in charge of implementing and executing response activities in communities under their jurisdiction,” the guidance states, “while the Federal Government is in a supporting role. As State and local communities consider COVID-19-related restrictions, CISA is offering this list to assist prioritizing activities related to continuity of operations and incident response, including the appropriate movement of critical infrastructure workers within and between jurisdictions.”

 

FEMA details resources in call with county leaders

FEMA held a call with county leaders this week to detail resources now becoming available for COVID-19 responses.

Among the key points:

• Local governments are eligible to submit reimbursements under Category B, emergency protective measures
• FEMA cannot duplicate assistance of other federal agencies (HHS/CDC)
• FEMA is working to streamline and expedite funding
• FEMA is working with its regional arms and states to process funds quickly (it had 223 requests in at the time of the call, with 55 from counties and 81 from cities/townships)
• States can assist counties to work in the FEMA grant system, if a county has not entered the portal before
• FEMA is working to provide grants training through the states (not through regional FEMA managers)
• FEMA also looking to implement direct processing for counties/cities but no timeline provided
• States are submitting questions and FEMA responding as soon as possible and putting info on FEMA.gov.

The call was recorded and is available online. 

 

State approves two bills with supplemental funds for COVID response

The Legislature has passed two measures to provide funds to combat the coronavirus:

Senate Bill 151:

• Authorizes up to $50 million in Federal revenues for combating the respiratory virus COVID-19 to be appropriated to departments for State and Local preparedness and response activities.
• Requires a report on funding and activities to the appropriations committees, relevant subcommittees, the fiscal agencies, and the State Budget Office by June 30 and Sept. 30 of 2020.
• Directs $10 million to the Coronavirus public health emergency line be allocated to departments for critical State and local preparedness and response activities for the respiratory virus COVID-19.
• Directs that the activities may include monitoring, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection control, and continuation of critical State government functions. Requires a report by departments receiving funding to the Legislature and State Budget Office by June 30 and Sept. 30, 2020, on activities and expenditures.
• Creates the Coronavirus Response Fund in the Department of Treasury.
• Allocates $15 million into the Fund.
• Allows funds to be spent upon appropriation or legislative transfer.
• Requires interest and earnings from the Fund be deposited in the General Fund.
• Directs that funds in the Coronavirus Response Fund not lapse to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year.

House Bill 4729:

• Includes $50 million GF/GP to expand capacity of critical health care providers for responding to the Coronavirus public health emergency.
• Authorizes $40 million GF/GP to be allocated to departments for preparedness and response activities for the Coronavirus public health emergency. Activities may include monitoring, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection control, and continuation of critical state government functions. (This is in addition to the $10 million under SB 151.)
• Authorizes $35 million GF/GP to be deposited into the Coronavirus Response Fund to be available for subsequent appropriation as needs related to the coronavirus are identified. (This is in addition to the $15 million GF/GP authorized in SB 151 for the same purpose.)

 

Virtual town hall set for March 26 on high-water issues

On March 26, state leaders will hold a virtual town hall on high-water issues in Michigan, the first in what is planned as a series.

The event will start at 6 p.m.; is designed for a public audience; and  will cover water level basics and current forecasts, statewide high water impacts and resources for residents.

To register, click here.

 

March 23 webinar will focus on rural effects of COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a webinar for rural stakeholders on March 23 at 1 p.m. Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases Dr. Jay Butler will share guidance with partners, public health practitioners, health care providers and others working to protect the health of rural communities. He will describe what the CDC knows at this point and what CDC is doing in response to this outbreak. 

To register, click here.

 

Tips offered on using GIS to respond to COVID-19

ESRI will host a webinar on March 23 in which experts will show how counties can quickly deploy free GIS resources to prepare, mitigate and actively respond to COVID-19.

For free registration, click here.

MAC issues committee, conference updates in response to coronavirus

With coronavirus confirmed in Michigan, MAC has announced several steps to respond to the coronavirus situation in the interests of minimizing risk to members and staff alike.

First, we have created a resource page for county leaders in responding to the crisis. This page will be updated regularly.

Second, for members of our policy committees, we are shifting all upcoming meetings to teleconference-only sessions until further notice. Our staff will be in contact with committee members on the details of these sessions. As we already routinely offer a teleconference option to committee meetings, you should see a seamless transition.

Third, we have prepared for the option of MAC staffers to work at home, rather than in our Lansing offices. Each staffer will have a laptop that connects to our file system and phone access will be maintained via cell lines. You will still be able to call our main number, 517-372-5374, and a MAC staffer will answer your call.

We have NOT yet taken this step, but it is important to be ready to do so as events dictate. If we do shift to working at home, all members will be alerted by email.

Fourth, we are consulting with MAC Board leadership and our venues and monitoring advisories from county and state health officials as we continue planning for our 2020 Legislative Conference in Lansing April 15-17. As of this moment, the conference is still set to go forward as scheduled. As in all things, our decisions will be driven by what is in the interest of public health. Gov. Whitmer has ordered a halt to large gatherings until April 5.

We have advised all registered attendees that they may cancel with a full refund.

MAC members attend Trump speech, make Capitol Hill visits

Attendees of the 2020 NACo Legislative Conference make sure to get their own photos and video of President Donald Trump’s address to the conference on March 3. (Photo by MAC staffer Meghann Keit)

From hearing President Trump discuss federal cooperation with counties, to fanning out across Capitol Hill to meet with Michigan lawmakers, to attending briefings on coronavirus, mental health policies and more, MAC’s contingent of county commissioners and others were kept busy during the 2020 National Association of Counties Legislative Conference last week.

About 50 county leaders from Michigan joined more than 1,500 county officials from across the nation to attend committee sessions and work on key policy issues.

During the conference, MAC leads county officials on visits to Michigan’s members of Congress on Capitol Hill. This year, MAC groups met with or received briefings from Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters and Reps. Bill Huizenga, Justin Amash, John Moolenaar, Dan Kildee, Fred Upton, Haley Stevens and Debbie Dingell.

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. A highlight of this year’s conference was an address by President Donald Trump.

See more photos.

“This was one of our largest contingents to attend NACo Legislative, which helps us in making our case to federal lawmakers on our needs in Michigan,” said Stephan W. Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties. “And President Trump’s address to the conference is another example of how this administration views the importance of county government.”

Community corrections, jail pressures discussed at MAC summit

Leaders from groups representing prosecutors and sheriffs came to MAC on Feb. 25 to discuss legislative agendas for 2020.

Leaders of the groups representing Michigan’s sheriffs and prosecutors joined MAC President Veronica Klinefelt and Executive Director Stephan Currie for a discussion this week on legislative goals in 2020.

Among topics raised by MAC were funding for community corrections, the looming sunset on the authority of trial courts to impose fees and a bill that requires defendant competency examinations at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry to be completed within 30 days or allows a court to appoint an outside independent psychiatrist to perform examination.

Key concerns for sheriffs this year are finding a better revenue stream for the state’s Secondary Road Patrol program and full funding for reimbursements to counties holding state prisoners.

Prosecutors want the Legislature to look at greater investment in information technology services and consider the rising demands on prosecutor offices in the wake of the state’s new investments in indigent defense services.

“This was one of the best conversations we have had since we started these gatherings,” said Currie. “Boosting communication and coordination among county groups will pay dividends later this year in the Legislature.”

MAC appreciates the county leaders who were able to attend:

• Paul Bailey, Berrien County sheriff and past president of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association
• Matt Saxton, Calhoun County sheriff and incoming executive direct of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association
• Bill Vailliencourt, Livingston County prosecutor and president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan
• Jim Miller, a lieutenant in the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office and a member of the joint county-state Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration
• Barbara Hankey, manager of Oakland County Community Corrections

MAC launched these “county summits” in early 2019 to foster communication and cooperation among the various groups representing county government offices in Michigan.

Allegan’s Storey urges state action on lakeshore damages

Allegan Commissioner Jim Storey (left) and Ottawa Water Resources Commissioner Joe Bush before their testimony on Feb. 25.

Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey told a Senate funding panel this week that little has been done to address a “shipwreck on the horizon” for Michigan’s summer tourism season.

Storey, a MAC Board member, was referring to the damage inflicted by rising water levels and wave action along Lake Michigan in his county and elsewhere. He also told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and the Environment that the state should look at extra emergency funds beyond what becomes available via the regular disaster declaration process. (link to testimony)

Joining Storey during testimony was Joe Bush, water resources commissioner for Ottawa County, who detailed damages in his county on homes, marinas and infrastructure.

“Roads in Grand Haven have been underwater; the city is looking at $3 million-plus to make intersections passable,” Bush said. “Windmill Island (in Holland) will be underwater if we get 8 to 10 inches more (rise in lake levels).

“If water rises, we definitely need to have a plan in place and try to figure out who is going to pay for what,” Bush added.

“We need to get going; time is now,” Storey added. “That’s my essential message.”

For more information on MAC’s work on water issues, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

MIDC details system progress, spending to Senate committee

Michigan is unlike many states in the local control over indigent defense services and 85 percent of the state money appropriated for those services went to attorneys and their staffs in fiscal 2019, Executive Director Loren Khogail and Research Director Jonah Siegel of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) told the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee this week.

The pair also detailed MIDC’s financial monitoring of spending through quarterly financial reports, noting that work has begun on an internal and local system audit component. MAC will be closely monitoring this project and collecting feedback from members, as we recognize the current reporting requirements and additional requests for documentation already are proving burdensome to some systems.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget includes $117 million from the General Fund for FY21 to fully fund systems for compliance of state mandates under standards 1-4. The Legislature is now reviewing those recommendations. If the grant funding is not provided in full by the state, however, local systems are not required to continue to comply, under provisions of state law. MAC is urging legislative approval of the full $117 million.

For more information on this issue, contact Meghann Keit at keit@micounties.org.

 

MAC releases federal priorities in advance of NACo Conference

In advance of the 2020 NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., this weekend, MAC has released its federal legislative priorities for the year.

Key points of emphasis include:

• Greater investment in services to those coping with mental illness or substance abuse disorders (In Michigan rural county jails, 34 percent of the inmates are dealing with mental illness.)
• Disaster preparedness and resilience (Michigan was 34^th out of 50 states in disaster preparedness in a 2018 USA Today report.)
• Infrastructure (A 2019 report by a business alliance found Michigan needed $12 billion in new spending to update critical water infrastructure.)
• Broadband access (Fifteen Michigan counties are below 50 percent in resident broadband access, according to the Federal Communications Commission.)
• Full funding for federal PILT (Michigan has the second-largest amount of land in federal control of states east of the Mississippi River.)

“We will spend several hours on Capitol Hill on March 3 visiting with House members and receive briefings from both of Michigan’s U.S. senators,” said Deena Bosworth, director of governmental affairs. “These issues will be the first topics of conversation in each session.”

For more information on MAC’s federal advocacy, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Longtime MAC staffer Dzurka passes

Yvonne Dzurka, a fixture at MAC since the 1980s and friend to countless county leaders, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22 due to complications from her long battle with cancer.

The then Yvonne Simon joined MAC in 1985. In the subsequent 35 years, Yvonne was involved in just about every aspect of MAC’s work on behalf of county officials, including conference planning, overseeing the MAC newsletter, Michigan Counties, and serving as the secretary for all three of MAC’s governing boards: MAC, Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund and MAC Service Corp. She also served as the administrative assistant for the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers (MACAO).

“We are devastated,” said Executive Director Stephan Currie. “Our hearts and prayers go out to her husband, Scott Dzurka, her son and daughter in-law, Jason and Amanda Simon, and the rest of her family. Each of us at MAC has lost a dear friend whose gentle spirit and ready smile never failed to brighten the day.”

“Yvonne was my right hand in planning the MACAO conference for last two decades,” said Bridgette Gransden, Midland County administrator and a close friend. “She made sure all the details were taken care of and I couldn’t have done it without her — at least not nearly as well.

“Yvonne was a huge supporter of other women — ‘girls,’ as she would lovingly refer to us as. She was all about boosting up other women and encouraging them to follow their dreams. It was common in our conversations for her to say, ‘Of course we can do that — we’re girls!’ We had the power to change the world. Yvonne had the power to change lives,” Gransden added.

On top of climbing the ladder to become MAC’s lead finance staffer, Yvonne also encountered her future husband, Scott, then working in governmental affairs for MAC. The couple traveled, golfed and were big fans of the Michigan State University Spartans.

In remarks in January for a planned feature on her duties at MAC, Yvonne wrote:

 “I love my job … I love the people I work with and the people I work for. Every day, I learn something new about county government or about my job.”

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Court Appointed Special Advocates: The Voice for Clinton County’s Children (1207 N. Old U.S. 27, St. Johns, MI 48879) or St. Joseph Catholic School’s Educational Trust Fund. 

 

DHHS provides opioid broadcast for local leaders

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chair of the Michigan Opioid Task Force, led an Opioid Crises Response Broadcast for local officials Thursday. For those that were not able to view live, the department will be posting slides from the presentation at its site.

Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive continues, to educate about the crisis, which is killing five people per day in Michigan and has reverberating impacts through the child welfare and criminal justice systems —both huge systems largely supported financially by county government. Khaldun noted that in 2018 trends indicated racial disparities across the opioid effects and access to treatment. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is ensuring all this data is considered when targeting interventions. Finally, responses will build on current efforts such as expansion of naloxone distribution and syringe service programs.

The governor created the Opioid Task Force to drive action and policy changes with the goal to decrease opioid deaths in half in five years. MAC is part of the Opioid Advisory Group that provides feedback and suggestions to the Task Force. The Task Force also will be holding town halls around the state. MAC encourages members to attend, promote to constituents and provide input on this important topic affecting county residents.

Town hall dates and more information can be found here https://www.michigan.gov/opioids. Please contact Meghann Keit at keit@micounties.org with questions.

 

MAC Membership Directory arriving in mailboxes

The 2020 MAC Membership Directory is the ultimate guide to county elected officials across Michigan.

Each of Michigan’s 83 counties has a full listing with names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for all county elected officials. The directory also carries a list of board chairs and vice chairs; full administrator listings; and contact information for human resources and purchasing.

Complimentary copies of the 2020 MAC Membership Directory should have arrived, or be arriving, for county commissioners, county administrators and county board offices.

Readers also will find background materials on MAC’s services, full listings for Michigan legislators, both state and federal, and Michigan legislative committee assignments.

Members also can access a digital version of the directory here. Your password information is found on the Table of Contents page of your directory.

 

CLOSUP: Local government financing system is broken

Tom Ivacko and Debra Horner of the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy led a Lansing briefing on local government officials’ thinking on fiscal resources. (photo: U-M Social)

“Michigan is experiencing its longest-ever period of sustained economic growth, but because of a web of policy factors, local governments are not reaping the benefits,” Tom Ivacko, interim director of the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) told a Wolverine Caucus event in Lansing on Tuesday attended by some 40 officials and policy-makers.

CLOSUP, part of the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, presented its case that the system of funding for local government in Michigan is broken at the briefing. Confidence levels of officials across the state to meet their fiscal needs have been stagnant for the past three years despite a growing economy. The root of local leaders’ concerns is a system that has been constricting local governments’ ability to raise enough money to keep up with rising service costs and demands.

Costs for health insurance for public employees, infrastructure repairs and capital expenditure have been rising faster than revenues, as funding streams for municipalities, counties, townships and villages are restricted because of a number of factors, including caps on property tax revenue increases, reduced state government revenue-sharing, state-imposed unfunded mandates on local governments, and rules limiting the types of revenues that can be raised and kept locally, Ivacko noted.

The data come from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), which CLOSUP has been conducting since 2009, and which seeks data from the 1,856 general purpose local governments in the state, with an average participation rate above 70 percent. The program is conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Townships Association.

“If the situation does not change, less than half of local leaders say they will be able to maintain local services at current levels,” said Debra Horner, MPPS project manager at CLOSUP.

The survey does indicate a majority of respondents see three possible solutions which require statewide action: pay for unfunded mandates; return revenue-sharing to full funding levels; and state constitution reform to allow greater property tax revenue growth.

• The Michigan Public Policy Survey, December 2019 
• General information about the survey
• County-by-county reports

 

Time to get REAL about your identification

Michigan residents are being urged by the Secretary of State’s Office to ensure their personal identification is compliant for REAL ID.

This federally required standard for identification means anyone who travels by air within the United States will be unable to board a plane without a REAL ID-compliant document beginning on Oct. 1, 2020. A REAL ID also will be required to enter certain federal facilities.

A REAL ID can be a U.S. Passport or an Enhanced Driver’s License – or you can turn your standard driver’s license into a REAL ID at the Secretary of State’s office. Learn more about the law and what documents you need to bring to get a REAL ID at Michigan.gov/REALID.

 

National news from NACo

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• White House releases updates to NEPA implementation; public comment period opens
• NACo Past President Jim Snyder retires after 39 years of service
• Toni Carter continues to make Minnesota history