Conference session to focus on workplace strategies in challenging times

With counties continuing to confront hiring, retention and workforce challenges across numerous specialties, the first plenary session of the 2023 Annual Conference (Oct. 1-3 in Kalamazoo County) will feature an expert strategist on “Building an Effective Multi-generational Workplace.”

“The modern-day workplace has four generations working under one roof: Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, Millennials and now Generation Z. All work together to accomplish common organizational goals, however, with differences in each of these generation’s viewpoints, upbringings, culture, ideas, beliefs and experiences, it is likely to see some tiffs or clashes within the organization. Hence, it makes managing four different generations in the workplace an extremely difficult task to accomplish, though not impossible,” says Jeff Butler, speaker and author. “With the right guidance, support and advice, the task of managing these four generations under one roof is achievable. The support may come in various forms, one of which is this program.”

Backed by a decade of psychological research, Butler will share insights about the motivations, differences and communication styles of these four generations. Attendees will learn how organizations across various industries are thriving with a multigenerational workforce and how yours can too. Through this program, you’ll find specific actionable strategies to manage your cross-generational challenges and turn your multigenerational workforce into a competitive advantage.

Registration continues for the 2023 Michigan Counties Annual Conference to celebrate MAC’s 125^th Anniversary.

• Click here for Attendee Registration
• Click here for Exhibitor and Sponsor Opportunities

For details on pricing, hotel and more sessions, please click here.

For questions about MAC events, contact Tammi Connell at connell@micounties.org.

 

Board approves 2023-24 platforms for final member review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The MAC Board of Directors, at its summer meeting, reviewed the association’s policy platform drafts for 2023-24 and approved them for final review by the membership at the 2023 Annual Conference.

MAC’s advocacy work is guided by these policy platforms, which are developed through meetings of MAC’s six policy committees each year:

• Agriculture and Tourism
• Environmental and Natural Resources
• Finance and General Government
• Health and Human Services
• Judiciary and Public Safety
• Transportation and Infrastructure

The next step in this annual process will begin on Friday, Aug. 25 when the policy drafts post to the MAC website for member review. According to the by-laws, MAC members may offer amendments in two ways:

• Submit an amendment to the MAC offices at least five (5) days prior to the opening day of the MAC Annual Conference (or Sept. 26 this year); or
• Submit an amendment from the floor during the Annual Business Meeting on Oct. 3.

Please note that amendments submitted in advance require a majority vote on the floor for approval, while amendments submitted on the floor during the session require a 2/3 vote of members attending.

For any questions on the platforms, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

To submit an amendment, email the finished text to despins@micounties.org.

 

Governor signs FY24 budget with key county priorities

Michigan will expend $81.7 billion its fiscal 2024 budget year starting Oct 1 after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed enabling legislation this week. The budget includes a variety of county benefits and 2023 MAC legislative priorities.

County-related items from the FY24 budget include:

• A $17.6 million increase to county revenue sharing, bringing the total to $263.4 million (click here to see county-by-county estimated payments)
• $6.6 billion for transportation work
• $1.1 billion for environmental work (with about a third of it coming from the state General Fund)
• Reimbursements for counties from the Child Care Fund at 75 percent, moving up from the current 50 percent and securing one of MAC’s key priorities for 2023 (UPDATE: Please see clarification on the rate changes in the Aug. 25, 2023, Legislative Update.)
• $72 million for Michigan Indigent Defense Commission grants to cover costs associated with Standard 8 adopted by the commission
• $19.3 million for foster care per diems, representing an 8 percent increase
• $25 million for an increase to Essential Local Public Health Services
• $76 million for implementing the provisions of Proposals 1 and 2 from 2022 that alter legislative term limits, transparency standards and election procedures, with $30 million of that figure set aside for grants to incentivize early voting efforts via multi-jurisdictional efforts

For more information MAC’s work on the state budget, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

County leaders asked to contact Congress on Medicaid jail issue

Earlier this year, bipartisan bills were introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MEIP). The Due Process Continuity of Care Act and the Reentry Act were introduced in March, which would amend the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy.

Congress is currently negotiating the reauthorization of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-271), which expires on Sept. 30, 2023. 

The Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy is a federal statute that terminates access to federal health benefits at the time of arrest. These bills would allow continuity of care via access to critical health services for incarcerated individuals. The Due Process Continuity of Care Act would “allow pretrial detainees to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state and provide $50 million in planning grant dollars to states and localities for implementing the MIEP repeal, improving the quality of care provided in jails and enhancing the number of available providers to treat this population.” The Reentry Act would “allow Medicaid payment for medical services furnished to an eligible incarcerated individual during the 30-day period preceding the individual’s release.” MAC, along with other stakeholders, has requested the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services apply for a Section 1115 waiver  relating to the MIEP, allowing for Medicaid eligibility for incarcerated individuals prior to release.

MAC supports these bills and access to better care for incarcerated individuals in county jails. Should these bills pass, counties will have a streamlined process to provide effective behavioral health care and services for transitions to community care, and recidivism rates and risk for post-release overdoses will reduce.

As Congress works to reauthorize key programs within the SUPPORT Act, NACo and MAC urge you to contact your U.S. Representatives and Senators and ask them to support the inclusion of the following bipartisan bills that would address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP): 

• The Reentry Act (H.R. 2400/S.1165), which would allow Medicaid payment for medical services furnished to an incarcerated individual during the 30-day period preceding the individual’s release.
• The Due Process Continuity of Care Act(H.R. 3074/S.971), which would allow pretrial detainees to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state.

Send a letter to your U.S. Senators and Representatives using the NACo letter template.

• Senate contact list.

• House contact list.

Access the new Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) Advocacy Toolkit for talking points, sample social media posts and other advocacy resources.

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

 

ICYMI: Revenue sharing, Child Care Fund boosts mark FY24 state budget

Increases in county revenue sharing and reimbursements for the Child Care Fund highlight a fiscal 2024 state budget approved by legislators during marathon sessions in Lansing this week.

What is being described as “the largest state budget in Michigan history” includes a $17.6 million boost in county revenue sharing, which will bring the total in FY24 to $263.4 million. This represents the seventh consecutive increase in this account after a decade of disinvestment by the state.

“We are obviously pleased with increases in revenue sharing, and especially this year in light of the fact that these are broad-based boosts that reach every corner in the state in a budget marked more by specific and highly individualized projects by the Legislature,” said Stephan Currie, MAC’s executive director.

See county-by-county revenue sharing estimates for FY24.

The fact that the final increase was much less than had originally been discussed earlier this year is evidence, said MAC’s chief lobbyist, that the true, fundamental reform is to create and fund a separate Revenue Sharing Trust Fund. “What we have seen from the conference committee this week is a reminder that we need to take revenue sharing out of the annual political free-for-all with the budget,” said Deena Bosworth. “Our plan, developed in close coordination with other local government groups, will do just that, and we remain hopeful that, with members’ help, we can bring this reform into reality later this year.”

Bosworth was referring to plans embodied in House Bills 4274, by Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw), and 4275, by Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Oakland), which would create a trust fund and dedicate a percentage of the state sales tax to it, thereby ensuring annual growth when sales tax receipts grow and separating revenue sharing from much of the current budget politics.

To send a message of support to your legislators of this reform, click here.

In other county-related items from the FY24 budget:

• $6.6 billion is assigned to transportation work;
• $1.1 billion is assigned to environmental work (with about a third of it coming from the state General Fund);
• Reimbursements for counties from the Child Care Fund will go to 75 percent from the current 50 percent, securing one of MAC’s key priorities for 2023;
• $72 million will go into Michigan Indigent Defense Commission grants to cover costs associated with Standard 8 adopted by the commission;
• $19.3 million is dedicated to foster care per diems, representing an 8 percent increase;
• $25 million is dedicated in an increase to Essential Local Public Health Services; and
• $76 million is dedicated to implementing the provisions of Proposals 1 and 2 from 2022 that alter legislative term limits, transparency and election procedures, with $30 million of that figure set aside for grants to incentivize early voting efforts on a multi-jurisdictional effort.

For more information about MAC’s advocacy on the state budget, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.