House committee hears testimony on bill to help curb sheriff office staffing shortages

House Bill 5203, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Oakland), would allow county boards of commissioners to choose if retired county employees who work at a sheriff’s office can continue to receive retirement benefits during a period of re-employment.

Currently, if a person who has retired and receives retirement benefits becomes re-employed by the same county, their retirement benefit payment is suspended for the length of their re-employment.  House Bill 5203 would allow retirement benefits to continue during re-employment if a retiree becomes employed by a county sheriff’s office.

Allowing counties to re-employ sheriff’s office employees and maintain their retirement benefits will address the severe staffing shortages seen within county sheriff’s offices. When deputies, for example, retire from the sheriff’s office, and their position cannot be filled, this bill would allow the deputy to return to their role and avoid further staffing shortages within the sheriff’s office.

MAC supports this legislation. For further information, please contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.25 billion in Direct, Accessible Grants for Local Communities to Improve Roadway Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened the process for cities, towns, counties, Tribal governments, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to apply for $1.256 billion in funding for local projects that improve roadway safety. The funds are from the competitive grant program, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), which was created in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities both plan and carry out projects that help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our highways, streets, and roads. The SS4A grant program is a major action that supports funding to advance the DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, which launched in 2022 to address the high number of traffic deaths happening across the country. 

SS4A funds will help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions. Additionally, these funds can be utilized to test out safety features such as separated bicycle lanes or curb extensions at intersections. 

“Every community knows some intersection or stretch of road that is dangerous to approach – now we have an opportunity to make them safer,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden-Harris administration is proud to make over $1.2 billion available for projects that can save lives on our roads, from highway redesigns to protected bike lanes, and we invite communities of every size to apply.” 

Last year, DOT announced more than 1,000 communities in total received $1.7 billion in grants under SS4A, impacting roadway safety for around 70% of the nation’s population and over 60% of traffic fatalities that occurred between 2017 and 2021. With more than $1 billion available this year, the Department encourages all interested communities to apply, especially communities that have not applied to date. For Planning and Demonstration Grants, DOT has further encouraged communities with higher needs to apply by providing additional award consideration to those with higher fatality rates. The Department compiled a non-exhaustive list of the cities and counties that meet that threshold online and will continue to support the information needs of these localities throughout the application period.  

The application process for SS4A is designed to be as easy as possible and increased accessibility to this program in this latest funding round, particularly for smaller communities, Tribal governments and recipients new to Federal funding. This includes multiple deadlines and a longer application period for planning proposals, a pre-application review opportunity to determine eligibility before applying for implementation funding, and clarification about the use of Tribal Transportation Program funds as eligible for local match.  

Applications may come from individual communities or groups of communities and may include MPOs, counties, cities, towns, other special districts that are subdivisions of a state, certain transit agencies, federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups of eligible applicants.  

The Safe Streets and Roads for All Notice of Funding Opportunity can be found at  https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A. Applications for Implementation Grants are by May 16. Planning and demonstration grant applicants will have three opportunities to apply with the deadlines of April 4, May 16, and August 29.  

Podcast 83 talks with MSHDA head about Michigan housing crisis

“We are about 190,000 (housing) units short of where we need to be.”

Those were the words of Amy Hovey, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) in explaining the state’s housing crisis in a special episode of Podcast 83.

Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth, subbing in for regular host Stephan Currie, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of how and why housing became such a challenge for Michigan families – and Michigan policymakers.

“Primarily, this is because our household size has shrunk in our state. It was just over four people per household, and now it’s only at two people per household. So, even though we aren’t having a lot of population growth in our state, we still have a housing crisis,” Hovey explained.

In maps shared by Hovey’s staff, this crisis pinches some counties more than others, with effects pronounced in Branch, Missaukee, Montcalm, Newaygo and Otsego.

While most of MSHDA’s financial efforts are aimed at developers and individuals, Hovey emphasized the need for county involvement in the state’s housing plan.

“Governments at every level should be involved in the (state’s 15 regional housing partnerships), bringing their voices and their needs to the development of those plans,” Hovey explained. We have seen some counties (get involved on the issue). I met with Charlevoix County late last year, and they’re thinking about doing countywide zoning, which I love the idea. Counties often have more capacity than some of our smaller local governments, especially in our rural areas of our state.”

View the full video of the episode, recorded on Feb. 6, by clicking here.

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

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

Staff picks

Governor’s FY25 budget proposal looks promising for counties

A state General Fund budget proposal of $14 billion that includes a $26 million boost in county revenue sharing for fiscal 2025 received praise this week from the Michigan Association of Counties.

“In light of the fact the governor is proposing a smaller General Fund amount for FY25 than what was budgeted for FY24, this is a good budget recommendation from our perspective,” said Stephan W. Currie, executive director. “We asked for increases in revenue sharing, funding for juvenile justice facilities and staff, Medicaid coverage for inmates, stormwater infrastructure funding and full funding for indigent defense obligations. On pretty much every point, we see good news in the governor’s proposals.”

Revenue sharing

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for $281.2 million for county revenue sharing, with increases set in a mix of unrestricted and restricted formats. If approved, this amount would represent a $26 million boost from the FY24 baseline amount.

Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth, however, cautioned that this amount is the starting point of budget talks, noting that last year’s budget work began with a large revenue sharing boost that was trimmed by the Legislature.

“We have to watch it through the entire process very, very closely,” she said.

The governor’s plan also did not reference the creation of a dedicated and secured Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, a MAC priority for 2024, but Bosworth said the progress made last year in the Legislature on that issue is a good sign for eventual passage.

Juvenile justice

Significant funding is recommended to address the juvenile justice bed shortage crisis and implement recommendations from the state’s Juvenile Justice Task Force:

  • $38 million for in-patient child care payment methodology to assist with capacity issues
  • $3.5 million for juvenile staff and programming
  • $5 million for capital expenditures for juvenile facilities

Courts and jails

Whitmer’s plans in the criminal justice sphere are headlined by a $30.5 million allotment to cover health services for jail inmates slated for release who would otherwise be eligible for federal Medicaid coverage. This amount would be in service of a state effort to get a so-called Section 1115 Re-entry Waiver from the federal government to relieve counties of health care costs they now bear due to the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy.

Reform of that policy is a MAC priority for 2024, so the governor’s budget is exciting news, said Governmental Affairs Associate Samantha Gibson.

Also notable in this realm are an Increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for behavioral health, additional funding for public safety officers and first responders for mental health treatment and new judges for Kent and Macomb counties.

The budget also calls for full funding for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission’s (MIDC) work, but Gibson noted that this does not include an expansion of MIDC services to juvenile defendants.

Infrastructure

MAC was pleased to see a $15 million allotment for stormwater improvements, said Governmental Affairs Associate Madeline Fata.

But the FY25 plan has no additional funding for roads outside the PA 51 funding formula, she noted, despite the fact Michigan has a $3.9 billion annual deficit for road funding.

“MAC is a part of two separate coalitions trying to find new revenue sources for road funding,” Fata said. “We’re exploring a multitude of options.”

In what is sure to be a highly debated move at the State Capitol, Whitmer seeks a 1,289 percent increase in the tipping fees to place waste in landfills, moving it from 36 cents to $5 per ton. This would raise $80 million for environmental remediation efforts, recycling and landfill operations.

Additional coverage of the budget proposal will be released on Monday in the latest episode of MAC’s Podcast 83. Look for the episode alert in your email before noon on Feb. 12.

For questions on MAC’s budget advocacy, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Treasury sets next ‘Chart Chat’ for Feb. 22

The Michigan Department of Treasury will hold its next Chart Chat webinar at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22

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

Topics covered will include:

  • Budget Manual
  • Numbered Letters Update  
  • Deficit Elimination Process 
  • Uniform Assumptions FY 2024

Participants can register and submit questions prior to the webinar by clicking here.

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

 

MAC sets federal legislative priorities in 2024

In advance of next week’s National Association of Counties gathering in Washington, D.C., MAC has finalized its legislative priorities for 2024 on Capitol Hill. (Click here for downloadable PDF of the list.)

“Proper funding for PILT, of course, is a perennial agenda item for MAC, as Michigan has the second-largest amount of untaxable land of the states east of the Mississippi River,” said Deena Bosworth, director of governmental affairs. “And we will be pushing hard, along with NACo, for Congress to reform the Medicaid Exclusion Policy that leaves county taxpayers footing the bill for health services for jail inmates who have not received adjudication.”

Full Funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program

  • MAC and NACo support restoring full mandatory funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which compensates counties for untaxable federal land.
  • The Permanently Authorizing PILT Act (H.R. 3043) would permanently authorize the PILT program.
  • R. 3043 would add boilerplate to U.S. code to permanently and automatically fund PILT.
  • The PILT Reauthorization Act (S. 2480) would authorize federal PILT for 10 years.

Reasonable Health Care Cost-sharing for County Jail Inmates

  • Access to federal health benefits for non-convicted individuals would allow for improved coordination of care and decrease short-term costs to local taxpayers and long-term costs to the federal government.
  • Providing access to federal health benefits for those awaiting trial and verdict decisions would help counties break the cycle of recidivism caused or exacerbated by untreated mental illness and/or substance use disorders, thereby improving public safety.
  • While federal legislation to address necessary reforms to the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) is under way, MAC supports requiring the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a Medicaid Section 1115 re-entry waiver to reinstate Medicaid benefits for incarcerated individuals prior to release from county jails.

Renewal of the Affordable Connectivity Program

  • The Affordable Connectivity Program launched in 2022, which offers discounted broadband service to low-income households, is set to expire in April 2024.
  • More than 20 million eligible households have enrolled. Broadband is essential for accessing health care, education, and employment.
  • MAC and NACo urge Congress to extend funding for the program so low-income households can continue accessing the internet at a reduced rate.

For questions on MAC’s federal advocacy efforts, visit our advocacy center or contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Tweaked House maps won’t shift state partisan landscape, expert says

Changes to Michigan House lines mandated by a federal court will result in more compact districts in the city of Detroit, but they will not fundamentally alter the current partisan balance of the House of Representatives, an elections expert said in the latest episode of Podcast 83.

Matt Grossman, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, discussed with host Stephan Currie the ongoing map work by the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission. “(F)ederal courts struck down several districts in the Detroit area in the state House … for violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by predominantly using race as a reason to draw those districts,” Grossman explained. “So now the commission has been asked to go back and redraw those districts and anything else that is reasonably necessary surrounding those districts to get new house maps for use in the elections this year.

Grossman expects the new lines to result in fewer districts reaching out from Detroit “across Eight Mile Road” and the changes to be confined to the city of Detroit and its inner-ring suburbs.

What won’t really come into play with the changes, Grossman said, is the knife’s-edge partisan balance of the Michigan House, which shifted to a 56-54 Democratic majority after the 2022 elections that used the commission’s original maps.

“The new maps led to the statewide winner of more votes, which was the Democratic Party in the last election, getting a majority in the Legislature to match that statewide majority. … We don’t expect this redrawing to affect that. … We’re talking about — at the most — a half a district difference in partisan composition between the maps that are done now and the maps that will be done after this. … There’s a belief that Detroit was divided up in order to achieve that statewide partisan fairness; that’s not really true,” Grossman said.

View the full video of the episode, recorded on Jan. 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.

 

State to get nearly $12 million in latest opioid settlement

The state of Michigan is expected to receive an additional $11.7 million from a national settlement with Publicis Health, a global marketing and communications firm. Funds from this settlement will only be directed to the state government and do not include a requirement to distribute funds to the community.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the settlement Thursday with Publicis Health to resolve investigations into the global marketing and communications firm’s role in the prescription opioid crisis.

“The filings in the Wayne County Circuit Court describe how Publicis’ work contributed to the crisis by helping Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers market and sell opioids,” the Attorney General’s Office stated. “Court documents detail how Publicis acted as Purdue’s agency of record for all its branded opioid drugs, including OxyContin, even developing sales tactics that relied on farming data from recordings of personal health-related in-office conversations between patients and providers. The company was also instrumental in Purdue’s decision to market OxyContin to providers in patient’s electronic health records.  

“According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, between the years 2000 and 2020, the opioid death rate in Michigan increased on average 13.9 percent each year. These deaths — and the impacts on thousands who have struggled with opioid addiction — have created considerable costs for our health care, child welfare and criminal justice systems.”

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

 

MDOT will pay you $10 for your views about infrastructure

The Michigan Department of Transportation is studying possible changes to how our transportation infrastructure is funded. “As we move toward a low-emission future with electric vehicles and new types of fuels, we need to explore fairer, more sustainable ways to continue to fund and maintain our roads, bridges and public transit systems,” the department says. “This study explores road usage charges, which means that instead of paying state fuel taxes, you would pay a few cents for each mile you drive. To learn more about road usage charges, complete the survey, which includes an informative video.”

The study is currently seeking input from the public. “We want to hear from you regarding the fairest ways to pay for our transportation system. Michigan residents aged 18+ who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card to thank you for your time.”

Terms and conditions apply. Read the full terms and conditions.

 

Counties: Importance of local governments missing from governor’s speech

A vital tune was noticeably missing from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State “playlist” on Wednesday night: the importance and needs of local governments and the services they provide to Michigan.

That was the assessment of MAC leaders following the governor’s concert-style speech in Lansing on Jan. 24, her sixth assessment of the state’s progress since taking office.

While Stephan Currie, executive director of MAC, praised Whitmer’s comments on the need to build on the state’s economic momentum, he said counties were disappointed at what was not said.

“The governor spoke about bringing people to Michigan, yet she said nothing about the communities they will live in and the quality of life that counties provide,” Currie said. “The strength and attractiveness of Michigan are built upon our assets, our outdoors, our quality of life and our community spirit.

“From traditional responsibilities such as infrastructure and public safety, to newer challenges such as housing availability, public services are essential to thriving communities,” Currie added. “The governor noted how the four largest counties — Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent — supercharged the permitting process to get moving on thousands of new housing units. That’s just one example of how counties are the ‘governments on the ground’ bringing positive change. Now the challenge is to ensure those governments have the support and resources to maintain the momentum.”

In support of that momentum, MAC’s 2024 legislative priorities focus on:

  • A secure source of revenue sharing from the state to counties, thereby fulfilling a promise made by state leaders some 60 years ago;
  • Legislative action to ensure our local trial courts and juvenile services have the resources to fulfill their role in protecting the public;
  • Proper reimbursement for losses incurred by local governments due to tax cuts adopted by state leaders; and
  • Addressing a rapidly changing transportation grid by reforming fuel taxes.

“After many years of economic struggle and limited state support, Michigan counties are on a roll,” Currie said. “But to continue this progress, we must now use the moment to address longstanding needs for public services.”

For questions on MAC’s 2024 legislative priorities, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Podcast 83 team did not rock out to Whitmer’s SOS ‘concert’

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ’80s-style concert of a State of the State address did not impress, said members of MAC’s Podcast 83 team in their latest episode.

“There was no recognition (in the speech) of the contribution that locals have toward making Michigan a great place,” said Deena Bosworth.

“Well, and it’s not flashy, right?” noted Steve Currie. “What counties do isn’t the flashy stuff; we do the stuff people don’t always think about. So, it’s not always going to be talked about as quickly as some other areas of government that are more flashy economic development. You know those sorts of things, but still important.”

Other parts of the governor’s comments drew a more positive response.

“(The governor) wants to put some money towards affordable housing as well,” Currie said. “We’ve talked in our committees internally, and even at our conference level we’ve had presentations on housing. So, it’s something we’ve long supported is getting affordable housing. It’s an issue everywhere from Wayne County up into the UP.”

“We haven’t seen a full fiscal impact on what the $5,000 care-giver tax credit would be and what exactly the eligibility requirements are. But I will say the Population Growth Council provided data that suggested the portion of our aging population is drastically increasing,” noted Samantha Gibson. “The 65 and up population in Michigan is a pretty staggering portion of our entire population, and we’re already seeing shortages (in care workers).”

View the full video of the episode, recorded on Jan. 25, 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.

 

Learn about Materials Management Plans at Feb. 13-14 conference

Major changes in state law on handling solid waste, adopted in December 2022, will be the focus of the Virtual Michigan Materials Management Conference on Feb. 13-14.

The event will focus on the law changes and will provide regional, county, and municipal planners; landfill, compost, and recycling facility operators; and consultants alike with valuable information and tools to foster compliance, advance a circular economy, reduce our carbon footprint and address climate change.

The conference gives those and others the opportunity to learn about what the law changes mean and how they benefit everyone across Michigan. Check out the conference’s agenda and the list of speakers.

How to participate

This virtual Michigan Materials Management Conference will use an online platform called Whova to facilitate networking opportunities and information sharing. Participants will access the conference sessions through the Whova Web App. Don’t worry if you can’t attend all sessions. Recordings of all sessions will be posted in Whova and be available to everyone who registers for the event.

Register today to take part in the conference and network directly with EGLE staff and professionals from around the state. The conference provides up to 8 Continuing Education/Professional Development hours and the cost is only $20.

Click here to begin your registration process.

 

Webinar series focuses on running better meetings

A new webinar series focused on principles and practices of local government meetings will launch in March, MSU Extension has announced.

The Governing Essentials Series is designed for local elected and appointed officials looking to sharpen their skills and promote good governance practices. The webinars can be taken individually or as a three-part series.

This series qualifies for MAC’s County Commissioner Academy. Commissioners can earn two “credits” for the academy by completing all three parts of the series:

  • Open Meetings Act: The Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA) furthers government transparency by requiring elected and appointed boards to provide notice and make decisions in an open public meeting. Participants will learn the requirements of the Act as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
  • Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure: Parliamentary procedure based on Robert’s Rules of Order is the most widely used parliamentary authority. This session will focus on parliamentary principles, motions and debate and decorum during meetings. Participants will explore scenarios and practice skills.
  • Components of Extraordinary Governance: This session draws the best ideas together for a thorough overview of board governance. Better board governance, leading to more effective organizations, can improve our communities. That’s a goal we can all share!

All sessions will be delivered via Zoom. All webinars will be recorded and sent to registrants. Cost: $20 per session, $50 for the 3-course series. The webinars can be taken individually or as a three-part series. For the $50 series rate, applicants must register for either the spring, summer or winter series.

To learn more or register, click here.

For questions, contact MSUE’s Eric Walcott at walcott3@msu.edu.

 

Treasury seeks feedback on Uniform Budget Manual

The Michigan Department of Treasury’s Local Audit and Finance Division is soliciting feedback on January 2024 revisions to the Uniform Budget Manual, which was originally issued in August 2001.

The Exposure Draft for the revised Uniform Budget Manual assists local units of government in applying legal requirements and establishing a sound budgeting process. Recommended practices that would enhance the budgeting process are also included.

Any individual or organization that would like to submit comments should provide those comments in writing by Feb. 23, 2024.

Comments may be submitted by email to LAFD_Audits@michigan.gov with the subject line entitled “Exposure Draft – Budget Manual.”

Alternatively, responses may also be submitted via U.S Postal Service to:

Michigan Department of Treasury
Local Audit and Finance Division
PO Box 30728
Lansing, MI 48909-8228

If you have any questions, call 517-335-7469.

 

Staff picks

Podcast team reviews MAC policy priorities for 2024

A long-sought policy to create a secure source of county revenue sharing dollars and changes in juvenile justice and court policies are discussed in the latest episode of Podcast 83, MAC’s podcast on all matters county-related in Michigan.

Host Stephan Currie led the Podcast 83 team of Deena Bosworth, Madeline Fata and Samantha Gibson through a review of MAC’s 2024 legislative priorities in Lansing.

Topping the list, said Bosworth, is the creation of a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to hold dedicated state dollars to share with local governments.

“It might still be a little bit of an uphill battle because it does carve out a portion of the state sales tax and cuts into the unrestricted funds the Legislature uses … Hopefully we get some movement on it this spring,” she explained.

Bosworth also reviewed the legislative state of play on reimbursements for losses due to a property tax exemption for disabled veterans, while Gibson discussed the need to reset a legislative “sunset” on the authority of local trial courts to levy fees on defendants and Fata described the numerous challenges to infrastructure funding.

View the full video of the episode, recorded on Jan. 16, 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.

 

MAC releases new tool to aid counties on opioid settlement investments

MAC has released a new tool to assist members with investing opioid settlement dollars to maximize public health gains.

The Michigan Opioid Settlement Funds: Steering Committee Development and Tips for Processing Requests for Funds guidance document came out on Jan. 4. This tool is intended to assist counties with the creation of steering committees to guide planning efforts around opioid settlement funds and review committees associated with funding requests. Attention is paid to who should be involved in the process, which practices should be formalized for purposes of clarity and sustainability, as well as where to consider conflicts of interest. The document also highlights no-cost technical assistance resources available to counties. Guidance around the topics of planning and review committees focuses on the crucial aspects of providing a fair and transparent processes for utilization of settlement funds.

The document is housed alongside other guidance documents and tools in the Templates section of the Michigan Association of Counties Opioid Settlement Resource Center.

For more information, contact MAC’s opioid settlement technical adviser, Amy Dolinky, at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Webinar on Feb. 6 to explain federal program helpful to EMS entities

On Feb. 6, a webinar will brief local leaders on a federal program that could assist local emergency responders.

The Federal Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Program is overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). GEMT provides funding and support to eligible health care providers through state agencies, aiming to ensure 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 health care facilities and facilitating timely care during emergencies.

To register for the webinar, which starts at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern), click here.

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.

County agencies that may benefit from this program include:

  • Central Huron Ambulance Service Association
  • Alcona County EMS
  • Alger County Ambulance Service
  • Benzie County EMS
  • Clinton Area Ambulance Service Authority
  • Eastern Huron Ambulance Service
  • Emmet County Emergency Medical Services
  • Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority
  • Gratiot Emergency Services Authority
  • Iosco County EMS
  • Lapeer County EMS
  • Livingston County EMS
  • Missaukee County EMS
  • North Oakland County Fire Authority
  • North Ottawa EMS
  • Northeast Ingham Emergency Services Authority
  • Northern Bay Ambulance
  • Northwest Wexford Emergency Authority
  • Office of Genesee County Sheriff – Paramedic Division
  • Ogemaw County EMS Authority
  • Osceola County EMS
  • Oscoda County EMS
  • Otsego County Ambulance Corps
  • Southwest Shiawassee Emergency Alliance

For more information on MAC’s work on health issues, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.

 

Apply now for NACo’s Juvenile Justice Innovation Network

NACo’s County Juvenile Justice Innovation Network (CJJIN) aims to increase the practical understanding and capacity of counties to address the needs of youth involved in their local juvenile justice systems. NACo will facilitate a network that will learn about best practices and evidence-based resources to inform a strategic action plan that invests in the well-being and future of the youth within their community.

Counties selected for the network will have the opportunity to be featured in case studies highlighting innovation and lessons learned, a series of briefs on best practices and implementation and a webinar series. All resources related to CJJIN will be part of the forthcoming CJJIN Resource Hub and will be updated on this page

CJJIN is a nine-month opportunity for county teams to engage both virtually and in-person to share challenges and successes, learn from national and local experts, exchange ideas with other counties to achieve program and policy change that empowers and improves youth outcomes.

CJJIN will support a community of practice for up to five counties to identify challenges, strategies and an action plan to better support youth by strengthening county juvenile justice systems. Counties participating in the network will identify a core team of up to four champions working across youth-serving systems to join in-person CJJIN activities but are encouraged to invite additional stakeholders that can support the implementation of their strategic action plan. 

Applications to join the inaugural cohort will close on Feb. 2 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) and can be downloaded here. Applicants will also submit the Team Composition Form, which can be accessed here

Please send completed applications and questions to Meg Siwek, program manager for justice, at msiwek@naco.org.

 

Start the new year off with leadership development!

MAC congratulates the September 2023 NACo Leadership Academy graduates from Michigan. They join more than 10,000 graduates and current participants from across the country benefitting from the 12-week online program enabling existing and emerging county leaders to achieve their highest potential:

  • Joe Porterfield, county administrator, Wexford County

Counties can celebrate the 10th anniversary of the High Performance Leadership Academy by utilizing a special deal: each county can enroll 10 leaders for $15,000 in 2024. The next cohort starts on April 22.

Click here to enroll and learn more.

 

Staff picks

  • CoPro Web Ad 2018
  • Enbridge Banner Ad 2018
  • NACo Live Healthy Ad 960x200px
  • Nationwide Ad For Mac Site
  • MMRMA Ad 2023
  • Gallagher Banner Ad 2023
  • 2024 AC Sponsors
  • Rehmann Special Ad