Legislative Update 10-18-24

October 18, 2024Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Podcast 83: Statewide Septic Code Legislation

With legislative activity in Lansing still on a slow simmer, Health Officer with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Dan Thorell, talked with host Deena Bosworth and MAC’s Madeline Fata on the proposed statewide septic code legislation. In this new episode, Dan gives background on the legislation and discusses what House Bills 4479 and 4480, as well as Senate Bills 299 and 300, could mean for Michigan residents if passed during lame duck.

This legislation was introduced in the spring of 2023 and workgroups began in the fall of 2023, with many groups having concerns on the legislation. “The biggest issue we were confronting was really the evaluation component of inspecting existing systems, after they have already been installed, after they have been used for some time”, Dan said. “We’re using the number 1.4 million, and that number has been used for 15 years, but we have obviously installed more septic systems in that time.”

Dan provides some more background information on the evaluation component, as well as, some other concerns that were brought up in during workgroups and talks about the changes that have been made in the legislation to alleviate those concerns.

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:

No ordinance: Do not adopt an ordinance and allow the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to site for all large-scale renewable energy projects.
CREO: Adopt an ordinance that matches the standards outlined in the law exactly.
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.

Staff picks

Michigan could increase road funding with a truck weight-distance fee (Citizens Research Council of Michigan)
Some employers test arrangement to give workers allowance for (health) coverage (Kaiser Health News)
The Current: Making Housing More Affordable (Brookings Institution)
After 31 years, a French treasure hunt may have a winner. The prize: a valuable golden owl (Associated Press)

Legislative Update 10-11-24

October 11, 2024Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

MPSC releases final application instructions for large-scale renewable energy facilities

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) released its formal application instructions and procedures for the siting for large-scale renewable energy facilities this week. The following excerpt from the news release summarizes the final order:

“PA 233 takes effect Nov. 29, 2024. In today’s order, the Commission clarified that under the new law, the siting process must originate at the local level in most instances. The Commission can only consider applications in instances in which the relevant unit(s) of government have denied an application, failed to either approve or deny an application within 120 days or added additional provisions more restrictive than those contained in state law while an application is pending. The only exceptions to a project starting at the local level are where a local government has in place a moratorium on project development or where the local government requests that the developer use the statewide application process at the Commission instead of the local siting process. Finally, the Commission acknowledged that the local siting process remains available to project developers while noting that it was providing no guidance on siting processes that fall outside the Commission’s jurisdiction.”

The MAC team is conducting a thorough review of the “Application Filing Instructions and Procedures” document shared by the MPSC on Thursday. Stay tuned for a more detailed analysis and information regarding the implications of the final order.

For more information, contact Madeline Fata at fata@micounties.org.

Bill to bring Michigan race and ethnicity forms in line with feds raises concerns from counties

A bill to align Michigan’s gathering of race and ethnicity data with federal statute, intended to ensure federal funding is allocated equitably, poses unfunded mandates and liabilities to counties.

Senate Bill 958, sponsored by Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Wayne), would require all public bodies to update current forms within three years of enactment to reflect federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity data, and develop an action plan demonstrating the “process of complying with the legislation” and any potential risks associated with collecting race and ethnicity data within 18 months of enactment.

Counties can continue to use current forms for three years, then must transition to the updated forms under SB 958. Changing any and all forms that collect race or ethnicity data requires software and IT updates at the county level, and without proper funding, poses an unfunded mandate. The action plan outlined in SB 958 opens counties up to potential liabilities if the “potential risks” identified by a county are deemed inaccurate or insufficient. A county must also post their action plan onto their website within 18 months of the bill’s enactment. Ultimately, legislation geared toward the federal government is not suitable statute for local units of government.

MAC understands and supports the goal of the legislation to ensure adequate and equitable funding to communities throughout Michigan. Currently, MAC has no position on the legislation but has raised the aforementioned concerns to the legislature.

For more information on this issue, please contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.

Legislation seeks to increase penalties to individuals who defraud Michigan homeowners

Individuals who defraud Michigan homeowners could see increased penalties under a new proposal that advanced through a senate committee on Tuesday. House Bill 5598 and House Bill 5599, by Rep. Tullio Liberati (D-Wayne), would make it a felony to submit forged documents to registers of deeds in an effort to defraud the owner of real estate. Additionally, the bills would enable a register of deeds to submit evidence they believe to be fraudulent to the county prosecutor.

Wayne County Register of Deeds, Bernard Youngblood, testified in the Senate Committee on Local Government claiming his office has seen more than 13,000 inquiries of fraud in under 20 years. Youngblood explained that individuals will forge signatures on documents and file them with the Register of Deeds Office, effectively taking ownership of a property. The bills aim to disincentive this type of theft.

MAC is supportive of this legislation. The bills previously passed the House with overwhelming support. They were given unanimous support by members of the Senate Local Government Committee and have been referred to the Senate floor for consideration.

For more information on this issue, please contact Madeline Fata at fata@micounties.org

Legal expert: Counties need to start review of employee policies now

All Michigan counties are now on the clock, as a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling requires them to review and revise their sick time policies, a legal expert told Podcast 83 in a new episode.

Melissa Hagen of the law firm of Cohl, Stoker and Toskey detailed how the Michigan Supreme Court got involved with a 2018 ballot measure and what it now means for county governments as employers in a conversation with host Stephan Currie.

“All the counties are going to have to look at their sick time policies and revise those by Feb. 21, 2025, for their non-union employees,” Hagen said. “And then they’re going to have to do the same thing whenever their current collective bargaining agreements for union employees (expire).

“What this means for counties is that they should have somebody ― HR, their attorneys, whatever ― review their current policies. Because while many of them provide more sick days than the act requires, the act has some other points to it that employers may typically not include in their current policies,” Hagen continued. “One of those is that the act requires that sick time accrual (can’t be frontloaded). Many employers say on day one you’ve got, you know, five sick days. You can’t do that anymore. You have to accrue one day for every 30 hours worked.

“The other thing counties really want to look at is the expanded use of sick time, which is now mandated by the (Earned Sick Time Act). … Now I can use my sick time to go to a meeting at my child’s school, if that meeting is related to my child’s health. I can use my sick time to take my mother to her doctor’s appointment. So those are issues that the county needs to look at.”

To learn more about these new mandates, view the full episode, recorded on Oct. 3, by clicking here ― or review the text prepared by Cohl, Stoker on the MAC website.

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

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

911 Committee to host cyber threat event

Following up on material presented at the 2024 Annual Conference, the Michigan State 911 Committee is co-hosting a “Cyber Threat Assessment and Planning Workshop” for county leaders in October.

The event will be Oct. 29-30 at the Horizons Event Center, 6200 State St., Saginaw.

“This workshop assists PSAP leadership and emergency managers in learning how to develop a Cyber Incident Response Process and a Cyber Incident Response Plan. To help the participants understand the nature of these incidents, day one the instructors will provide education on cyber incidents and conduct several live demonstrations of different cyber-attacks including phishing/credential harvesting, ransomware, and business email compromise.

“The second day of the workshop begins with an overview of a typical Cyber Incident Response Plan. This is followed by a discussion regarding the connection CSIRP and Continuity of Operations Planning. The remainder of the day is used to help participants use the template to build a response plan for a ransomware attack.”

Those county officials recommended to attend include: PSAP Governing Body Representatives; PSAP Coordinators, Directors, Leaders; and PSAP IT Support. (Due to limited availability, there’s a 4-person limit per agency/county at this time.)

Click here to begin your registration and search for code 1122393.

Lodging options are available at $107 per night. For more links and details, view the event flier.

Treasury seeks feedback on pension grant reporting

The Michigan Department of Treasury is assisting the Municipal Stability Board (the Board) to solicit feedback on the proposed Corrective Action Plan Monitoring Form for Protecting MI Pension Grant recipients.

Per Public Act 166 of 2022, Section 979a, local governments receiving grants must be monitored by the Board for five years.

At the Sept. 18, 2024, meeting, the Board approved the draft monitoring form for public comment. This form, which outlines oversight for pension fund management, can be viewed with other Board documents at https://www.michigan.gov/MSB.

The Draft Form may be reviewed here:

Protecting MI Pension Grant Corrective Action Plan Monitoring: Application for Certification of Compliance

Any individual or organization that would like to submit comments should provide those comments in writing by Nov. 1, 2024.

Comments may be submitted by email to: LocalRetirementReporting@michigan.gov with the subject line titled, “Pension Grant Corrective Action Plan Monitoring Form Public Comment: 2024.”

Staff picks

Tomorrow’s cyber talents might already work in-house (Government Technology)
Are overdoses down and why? (Opioid Data Lab)
Regions should play a greater role in natural hazard mitigation planning and climate adaption (Citizens Research Council of Michigan)
Giant sequoia forest to be planted in Detroit neighborhood (MLive)

Legislative Update 10-4-24

October 4, 2024Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

Registration is open for 2024 New Commissioner School sessions in November-December

The Michigan Association of Counties is again pleased to partner with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) to present the New Commissioner School (NCS) courses in the weeks after the Nov. 5 General Election.

Registration and online course content for the school is now available! This program has been preparing new and veteran commissioners since 1968. Participants will explore governance complexities, understand their roles, learn about county finance and develop strategies for effective decision-making and collaboration.

The 2024 NCS includes self-paced online modules or live webinars in November, followed by in-person workshops in December. Participants should plan to complete either the self-paced content or the live webinars AND attend one of the in-person workshops in order to receive their certificate of completion from MSU Extension and County Commissioner Academy credits from MAC.

The December live locations are:

Dec. 2 – Bavarian Inn and Conference Center, One Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth (to allow for onsite preparation registration closes Nov. 25)
Dec. 3 – BayPointe Inn, 11456 Marsh Rd., Shelbyville (to allow for onsite preparation registration closes Nov. 25)
Dec. 9 – Kirtland College, 4800 W. 4 Mile Rd., Grayling (to allow for onsite preparation registration closes Dec. 3)
Dec. 10 – Bay College Escanaba, 2001 N. Lincoln Rd., Escanaba (to allow for onsite preparation registration closes Dec. 3)

For more information or to register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/ncs/.

Please contact MSU Extension Specialist Eric Walcott at walcott3@msu.edu with any questions.

Bill to expand options for opioid antagonists moves to Senate floor

Legislation to expand the available options of opioid antagonists to local governments, non-profits, public safety departments and more was voted out of the Senate Committee on Health Policy this week.

Senate Bill 542 , by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-Macomb), would allow a government entity that received an opioid antagonist from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) at no cost to choose the formulation, type of delivery service, method of administration or dosage of the opioid antagonist. The ability to decide on formulation or dosage only applies if the formulation or dosage chosen would not result in a loss of Federal funding.

An opioid antagonist includes naloxone, or any “similar and equally safe” drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug overdose.

Currently, counties can utilize the MDHHS naloxone (an opioid antagonist) portal to access naloxone at no cost. SB 542 expands the type of opioid antagonist available to government entities through the MDHHS portal.

MAC supports SB 542 and efforts to expand resources to counties for reduction, treatment and prevention of the opioid epidemic.

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

Podcast 83: Commissioners can use issue briefs to help MAC staff in run-up to ‘lame duck’

With legislative activity in Lansing still on a slow simmer, at best, MAC’s advocacy staff continue to prepare for what is expected to be an extraordinary “lame duck” session after the General Election, MAC’s Podcast 83 team explains in a new episode.

“First, there are the concerns around minimum staffing,” said Deena Bosworth. “Legislation in the House right now would make minimum staffing a mandatory subject of bargaining at the local level, particularly for Public Act 312 employees, and you combine that with the expansion of binding arbitration to corrections officers earlier this year, that’s highly concerning for us, and we will continue to oppose that going into lame duck.

“On the tax and finance side of things, we’re looking at perhaps tackling the ‘Dark Stores’ legislation,” Bosworth added. “Reps. (Julie) Brixie and (Jenn) Hill have some bills in and I know it’s a very big priority for them.

“And clearly the no. 1 issue is our Revenue Sharing Trust Fund again, which is sitting in the Senate Finance Committee; we are hoping that they move it out of there. We do know we have an overwhelming number of legislators in support of it. It’s just (a matter of) will they move it and put it on the governor’s desk for her signature?”

Bosworth also noted that MAC has released a series of one-page “Issue Briefs” for members to use in their talks with state legislators.

“We give them a little bit of background on the topic and really what we want you to talk to your legislators about,” Bosworth said. “So please, everybody … look up those issue briefs. If you are seeing your legislators back in district before the election … please bring some of these items up and help us get over the finish line on some of them.”

MAC Issue Briefs

Host and Executive Director Stephan Currie reviewed the results of MAC’s Annual Conference, held Sept. 24-26, including:

The installation of Wayne County’s Melissa Daub as MAC’s 116^th Board president
The election of John Malnar of Delta County as the newest MAC Board director

View the full episode, recorded on Sept. 30, 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.

Senate committee reviews wrongful conviction legislation

Michigan’s Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act (WICA) offers a wrongfully incarcerated person $50,000 for each year they were in prison. Upon dismissal of charges, or a retrial finding the individual not guilty, the wrongfully incarcerated person can file a WICA claim.

Senate Bill 997, by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Wayne), requires a prosecutor to respond within 60 days to participate in a suit regarding a WICA claim. While MAC supports the goal of ensuring wrongfully incarcerated individuals are made whole by the government, requiring already severely understaffed prosecutor’s offices to respond to claims within 60 days exacerbates overwhelming workloads. SB 997 would also increase court costs, and as the largest funding source for trial courts, counties cannot be subject to increased costs. MAC is working to require state funding to alleviate this financial burden.

Senate Bill 1014, by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Washtenaw), requires the storage of DNA evidence for the duration of an individual’s sentence, so that it can be retrieved in the event of a WICA claim or overturn of conviction. While such DNA is crucial in substantiating a wrongfully incarcerated person’s innocence, requiring local courts to store and retain the DNA for decades poses increased storage and labor costs.

MAC is working with bill sponsors to alleviate the unfunded mandates posed by SBs 997 and 1014. The bills await further testimony in the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety.

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

Webinar to review medical transport effort in Michigan

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) program. GEMT provides funding and support to eligible healthcare providers through state agencies, aiming to ensure that individuals without reliable transportation can access emergency medical care. This program improves access to emergency services for Medicaid beneficiaries, bridging the gap between patients and healthcare facilities and facilitating timely care during emergencies.

While Michigan doesn’t currently participate in the program, our state has the eighth-highest number of Medicaid enrollees in the nation. Local emergency services and ambulance providers are not fully reimbursed by Medicaid to cover the costs of medical transportation for this significant segment of our communities. The GEMT initiative in Michigan seeks to address health disparities, promote health equity, and reimburse local agencies and emergency services providers for serving vulnerable populations.

A $500,000 appropriation was secured in the FY25 state budget to assist MDHHS in starting up GEMT in Michigan. House Bill 5695, by Rep. Mike McFall (D-Oakland), requires MDHHS to participate in the federal GEMT reimbursement program and awaits movement in the House Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

The GEMT Webinar on Monday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. (Eastern) will review the status of HB 5695 and key next steps in moving this program forward. Topics for the one-hour session will include the anticipated schedule for legislation, provider cost reporting, committee testimony preparation and DHHS preparation committee.

Click here to register.

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

MAC on the Road: Tri-County Summit in Macomb County

MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie and Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth joined MAC President Melissa Daub (center), First Vice President Antoinette Wallace (second from right) and Board Director Sarah Lucido (second from left) at 2024 Tri-County Summit on Friday in Macomb County.

The summit, a gathering of leaders from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, continued the theme of “Moving Forward. Moving Together” and focused on environmental issues such as disaster planning and climate change, as well as sustainability and regional transportation.

Oct. 15 info event set for broadband funding

Local governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can connect and explore partnerships at a matchmaking event on Oct. 15. The Michigan High-Speed Internet office (MIHI) will be hosting “Building Bridges for BEAD” at the Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville.

This is an opportunity for locals and ISPs that are interested in applying for Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding to learn more about potential collaborations. Public and private partnerships will be paramount to the successful deployment of broadband infrastructure across Michigan.

The forum will be “a fast-paced, guided activity” to initiate conversations and allow for networking. To register or learn more, click here.

NACo again encourages veteran recognition with Operation Green Light

America’s counties have a long and proud history of serving our nation’s veterans, a legacy that continues to this day as we work with our federal, state and local partners to ensure that the former service members have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Once again on Veterans Day, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) invite the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes, and boroughs to join Operation Green Light and show support for veterans by lighting our buildings green from Nov. 4-11, 2024. By shining a green light, county governments and our residents will let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported.

To show support, counties are encouraged to use this template to pass a resolution declaring your county’s participation in Operation Green Light. 

Staff picks

Could parks and beaches replace coal plants in Michigan? Bay City may find out (Bridge Michigan)
Advancing inclusive development in rural towns (Brookings Institution)
What counties should know about the Congressional Observer Program ahead of the November 2024 election (NACo County News)
Michigan Lead Service Line Status (chart) (Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency)

Legislative Update 9-27-24

September 27, 2024Blog, Events, Legislative, MAC news, MACSC, Marketing, NACo

President Daub urges ‘collective voice’ for counties at Annual Conference

Melissa Daub of Wayne County is congratulated by her mother, Sandy Cauchi, after taking the oath of office as MAC’s 116th Board president.

New MAC Board President Melissa Daub of Wayne County outlined her vision for the association of “increased participation, influence and impact” during her inaugural remarks at the 2024 Annual Conference held this week in Grand Traverse County.

“We must be a collective voice that resonates throughout our state, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of every county in Michigan are heard and addressed,” Daub added during her speech after she took the oath as MAC’s 116th leader during the traditional President’s Banquet on Sept. 25.

Plenary sessions at the conference focused on the ominous rise of threats against local public officials and how county leaders can promote wellness in stretched county work forces. Michigan’s 83 counties are responsible for more than $3.6 billion in public revenue and employ more than 40,000 full-time workers.

Commissioners gathered at the event also reviewed and approved MAC’s policy platforms for 2024-25. These documents guide MAC’s advocacy staff in their work in Lansing and Washington, D.C.

During her semiannual Legislative Update presentation to members, Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth warned that a busy “lame duck” legislative session is on the horizon, which makes it ever more important for county leaders to stay in close contact with legislators on such issues as a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.

“Timeliness of presentations on safety and health issues was reflected in the attendance at those sessions and in the numerous questions from county leaders trying to address these new challenges,” said Stephan W. Currie, MAC’s executive director.

Issue briefs: Click here to see a variety of issue briefs designed by MAC’s advocacy staff to assist you in communicating with legislators.

Presentations and conference materials: Starting Oct. 1, visit MAC’s website to see presentation slides, photos and other materials from the 2024 conference.

The MAC Board of Directors elected officers for the 2024-25 term on Sept. 26 at the Annual Conference. They are (l-r): Bryan Kolk of Newaygo (2nd vice president); Melissa Daub of Wayne (president); Antoinette Wallace of Macomb (1st vice president); and Jim Storey of Allegan (immediate past president).

Board seats filled; new officers selected for 2024-25 year

John Malnar of Delta takes the oath as MAC’s newest Board director on Sept. 26.

During regional caucuses held at the 2024 Annual Conference, MAC members elected five members of the 16-member MAC Board of Directors:

Melissa Daub of Wayne County (re-elected as an at-large director)
Bryan Kolk of Newaygo County (re-elected as a Region 2 director)
Sarah Lucido of Macomb County (re-elected as a Region 5 director)
John Malnar of Delta County
Rick Shaffer of St. Joseph County (re-elected as a Region 3 director)

Malnar replaces Joe Stevens of Dickinson County as a Region 1 director on the board. Stevens served the maximum three terms on MAC’s governing body.

At the end of the conference, the MAC Board elected officers for the 2024-25 year. Members of the Executive Committee are:

Melissa Daub of Wayne County, president
Antoinette Wallace of Macomb County, first vice president
Bryan Kolk of Newaygo County, second vice president
Jim Storey of Allegan County, immediate past president

To see a full list of the MAC Board, click here.

Podcast 83: Blue Cross details work to aid counties on health costs

Designing health plans to help county employees save money is the topic of a special episode of Podcast 83, featuring a representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS), a MAC Premier Partner.

I suspect that many in the audience are thinking about their benefit decisions for 2025 and … I like to really suggest our (Blue Care Network) HMO plans,” said Yaniv Ribon, a senior director with BCBS. “And I want to highlight one plan specifically, and that’s our point of service plan.

“It really combines the flexibility of a PPO with the cost savings of an HMO. And how that looks is that members still enjoy the convenience of not needing referrals and having access to benefits, whether they see an in-network provider or out-of-network provider, or maybe even living out of state or working out of state,” Ribon added.

Blue Cross also is focused on helping counties and their employees contain rising prescription drug costs, Ribon told Podcast host Stephan Currie.

“We launched Price Edge in June of 2023, little more than a year now, and we’ve already saved Blue Care Network members more than $14 million at the pharmacy counter. For those with chronic conditions, we launched a program we call Sempra. Sempra members receive discounts at the pharmacy counter for adhering to their regimen. … And lastly, again, thinking about generic medications. In 2020, we joined forces with many new plans across many states and partnered with an organization called Civica RX,” Ribon explained.

“We’ve got a broad network of doctors and hospitals in all 83 Michigan counties. So, no matter which county you’re in, we have a plan for you,” Ribon said. “We have a network of providers for you. But alongside that, we really see ourselves as a next generation HMO. And by that, what I mean is that all of our plans are jam packed with programs really designed to focus on whole person health.”

To view the episode, taped on Sept. 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.

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. – double check link

Upcoming webinars will be 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.”

911 Committee to host cyber threat event

Following up on material presented at the 2024 Annual Conference, the Michigan State 911 Committee is co-hosting a “Cyber Threat Assessment and Planning Workshop” for county leaders in October.

The event will be Oct. 29-30 at the Horizons Event Center, 6200 State St., Saginaw.

Click here to begin your registration and search for code 1122393.

Lodging options are available at $107 per night. For more links and details, view the event flier.

Staff picks

Environmental Protection Agency announces $6.5 billion in available financing for water infrastructure projects (NACo County News)
Consumers Energy may get $770M from feds to fix century-old Michigan dams (Bridge Michigan)
Treasury, DOL and HHS release final rule on Mental Health Parity (NACo County News)
How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures (American City and County)

Legislative Update 8-30-24

August 30, 2024Blog, 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:

Click here for statement from John Malnar, Delta County, Region 1 candidate.
Click here for statement from Craig Reiter, Schoolcraft County, Region 1 candidate.
Click here for statement from Bryan Kolk, Newaygo County, Region 2 candidate.
Click here for statement from Rick Shaffer, St. Joseph County, Region 3 candidate.
Click here for statement from Sarah Lucido, Macomb County, Region 5 candidate.
Click here for statement from Melissa Daub, Wayne County, At-large candidate.

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.