The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)

Legislative Update 12-6-24

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

MAC joins local groups in urging action on revenue sharing

Antoinette Wallace makes the county case for revenue sharing reform during a Lansing press conference on Dec. 3, 2024.

“So, clearly, the system is broken.”

MAC First Vice President Antoinette Wallace of Macomb made that assessment of Michigan’s revenue sharing system Tuesday at a Lansing event touting immediate passage of bills to create a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.

“I believe that a dedicated revenue sharing fund, separate from annual budget politics in Lansing, is essential to meeting the promises made decades ago by our state,” said Antoinette Wallace of Macomb County, MAC’s first vice president. “It’s not like we, from a local level, have not had reasons to question the state’s commitment. Twenty-five years ago, the state allocated $228 million to counties via revenue sharing. Had the state simply adjusted that figure for inflation each year, counties would have received nearly $404 million this year,” she told media members at the event, which featured elected officials from counties, cities and townships. (Click here to see a video of Wallace’s remarks.)

The Dec. 3 rally highlighted the results of a letter campaign that yielded hundreds of messages for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from local leaders, urging her to throw her weight behind House Bills 4274-75, now awaiting action in the Senate.

UPDATED: MAC received nearly 180 letters of support from officials in 36 counties: Allegan, Alpena, Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Dickinson, Eaton, Gogebic, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ontonagon, Osceola, Saginaw, Van Buren, Wayne and Wexford.

“We appreciate the quick and broad response from our members on this,” said MAC Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth. “The governor is the key to getting our reforms unstuck in the Senate and into law before the Legislature exits later this month.”

For details on the legislation, see MAC’s Issue Brief. For questions, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

MAC makes case against haste on septic code legislation

“MAC believes this legislation should be given more consideration before advancing,” MAC’s Madeline Fata told a Senate committee on Dec. 3 about bills to create a statewide septic code.

MAC joined other groups this week in testifying against legislation for a statewide septic code now before a Senate committee.

More than a dozen stakeholders, ranging from public health leaders to Realtors, presented before the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Senate Bills 299-300, by Sen. Sam Singh (D-Ingham).

In her testimony, MAC Governmental Affairs Associate Madeline Fata said, “This legislation preempts local control by mandating the repeal of all local point of sale ordinances. Our organization believes, and our counties have proven, that point-of-sale works.

“For example, Benzie County’s point-of-sale program began in 1992,” she continued, “and at that time about 17 percent of tanks inspected were considered nonconforming. Now, only about 3 percent of tanks in the county are nonconforming, as they have been able to identify many of these failing systems over time.”

Fata and others emphasized the need for more time to make additional changes and clarifications to the legislation. Most agreed that this should not be rushed through in the final weeks of the legislative session.

Fata also voiced concern over the lack of funding for health departments to administer the program, and for homeowners to comply: “The District 10 Health Department oversees 10 counties, and they have estimated that they have over 160,000 septic tanks in their jurisdiction. Excluding Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays, assuming they can access the tanks through frozen ground in winter, that is an average of 61.5 evaluations per day. The number of evaluators District 10 would need to recruit, hire and pay to achieve this goal is difficult to calculate but undeniably costly. This could easily become an unfunded mandate.”

See Fata’s full testimony here, starting at the 1:06:41 mark.

It’s not clear if the bills will advance out of committee next week.

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

 

Executive Director Stephan Currie introduces MAC Board President Melissa Daub at the Dec. 2 New Commissioner School in Frankenmuth.

Commissioners gather in Frankenmuth, Shelbyville for training

Nearly 90 newly elected or re-elected county commissioners assembled in two locations this week as part of the 2024 New Commissioner School (NCS), a training program co-sponsored by MAC and MSU Extension.

In Frankenmuth, participants were greeted by MAC Board President Melissa Daub of Wayne, who noted she began her own training as a county commissioner in the same spot in 2018.

An always popular segment of the training is a briefing on Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) conducted by the firm of Cohl, Stoker and Toskey, P.C. To facilitate that session, MAC and the firm print and distribute an OMA summary booklet to attendees. (After NCS, MAC will have a limited supply of booklets available. If your county is interested in an amount of 20 copies or fewer, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.)

Finally, MAC also has posted a digital version of the booklet to our website.

The last two sites for NCS will be Dec. 9 in Grayling and Dec. 10 in Escanaba. Overall, MAC and MSUE expect more than 150 commissioners to go through at least some portion of the training.

 

Minimum staffing bill passes Senate Labor Committee

MAC’s Samantha Gibson testifies against minimum staffing legislation before the Senate Labor Committee on Dec. 5, 2024.

A bill to require minimum staffing levels as a mandatory subject of collective bargaining between a public employer and the representative of its employees was passed out of the Senate Labor Committee this week, after the House version was successfully removed from the House floor agenda in November due to MAC’s efforts.

Senate Bill 1167, by Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Macomb), an identical bill to House Bill 4688, by Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Calhoun), would amend the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) and specifies that “other terms and conditions of employment” would include minimum staffing levels within the bargaining unit and consider minimum staffing levels a condition of employment with respect to a bargaining representative’s collective bargaining responsibilities. SB 1167 and HB 4688 would limit its application to only Public Act 312 employees, which was recently expanded to include corrections officers.

Making minimum staffing levels a mandatory topic of collective bargaining could increase staffing costs to counties. In addition to the potential for increased costs, many counties are facing staffing shortages. Implementing minimum staffing requirements when local governments are struggling to maintain fully staffed facilities will add to the difficulties counties already face when recruiting and retaining employees.

MAC opposes this legislation, as do the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Townships Association. A letter of opposition was shared with Senate Labor Committee members this week and was sent to all House members in November.

MAC strongly encourages members to contact their legislators and inform them of the detrimental effects of this bill.

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

Damaging health insurance bill advances to House floor

“This approach is overly complicated and opens the door for more contentious and more costly bargaining with our employees, many of whom have the benefit of binding arbitration,” MAC’s Deena Bosworth told a House committee considering a bill to alter employer contribution rules for health insurance plans.

A flawed attempt to reform state law on employer contributions to health insurance programs was rushed out of a House committee this week, despite opposition from MAC and others.

House Bill 6058, by Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Macomb), would amend the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, commonly known as PA 152 of 2011. The bill would increase the employer contribution to employee health insurance and significantly increase the number of items and groups that can bargain for additional contributions.

PA 152 was enacted to curb rising health care costs, while fostering shared responsibility between employees and employers. It offered counties three cost-sharing options:

  • Hard cap: employers contribute up to a legislatively established maximum
  • 80/20 model: Employers pay no more than 80 percent of health plan costs, with employees covering the remaining 20 percent
  • Opt-out: Counties negotiate health contributions directly with bargaining units, often leading to disparities between employee groups

Most counties have adhered to the hard cap or 80/20 models to avoid costly and contentious negotiations. However, the act’s original inflationary mechanism, tied to the U.S. Consumer Price Index’s medical care component, failed to reflect the true rise in health care costs, especially in areas like prescription drugs. As a result, employees have been burdened with an increasing share of premiums.

HB 6058 introduces changes to address these shortcomings but does so in a way that complicates an already delicate balance between those employee groups represented by a bargaining unit, those groups who enjoy binding arbitration and those groups that do not belong to a bargaining unit. 

MAC, instead, advocates for a straightforward and effective fix to PA 152 that respects its original goals:

  • Hard cap reset: Adjust the hard cap to higher levels reflective of today’s health care costs, easing the financial burden on employees.
  • Inflationary adjustments: Replace the current inflationary measure with one based on the average health care rate increases approved annually by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. This mechanism would reflect Michigan’s health care realities and ensure the cap keeps pace with rising costs.

This approach would allow employers to contribute more toward health care premiums, alleviating financial strain on employees and maintaining the original law’s intent to control costs and promote fiscal responsibility.

While the committee did not act on MAC’s advice, MAC stands ready to collaborate on solutions that address these issues without undermining counties’ ability to serve residents effectively.

MAC opposes the current version of HB 6058, now on the House floor, to protect counties from the pitfalls of prolonged and contentious labor negotiations and exposure to significantly more of the financial burden of the benefits.

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

 

Prisoner productivity credit bills advance in Senate

Legislation to allow certain prisoners to earn productivity credits to reduce their sentence was passed out of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety this week.

Senate Bills 861–864 would only apply to future sentences in allowing prisoners to receive productivity credits. Under the legislation, prosecutors are required to notify victims at the time of sentencing that an earlier release date is possible, if the offender completes productivity credits.  

While completing productivity credits would deem a prisoner eligible for early release, the parole board will still make final decisions regarding release dates, with final discretion remaining with judges and prosecutors.  

SBs 861-864 would remove truth-in-sentencing, leaving many victims of crime with uncertainty regarding the minimum sentence their offender would serve.  

MAC opposes the bills, as do the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association.

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

 

Treasury issues reminder about ARP spending deadline

All ARPA funds provided to local governments in Michigan through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024. Any funds not obligated by this date will be subject to recapture, resulting in a loss of critical resources for your community.

See more on this by clicking here.

Note that if you received SLFRF funds, you should have been sent two email notices from the U.S. Treasury. The first was sent on or about Nov. 14 and the second was sent on or about Nov. 20. These two notices give you detailed information regarding their requirements. It is suggested that you review them as soon as possible.

See also: Countdown to ARPA’s SLFRF obligation deadline: Top 5 insights for local governments

 

Staff picks

Legislative Update 11-22-24

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

MAC letter campaign on revenue sharing is off to fast start

A letter-writing campaign started by MAC this week is gaining momentum to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders to act on Revenue Sharing Trust Fund legislation before the end of the legislative term.

As of 9 a.m. on Friday, MAC had received 78 different letters from leaders in Allegan, Baraga, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Gogebic, Ionia, Iron, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Mackinac, Mecosta, Montmorency, Saginaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.

“This is a great response in just a few days,” said Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth. “And we thank those who have acted. But our goal is to gather at least 300 such letters by Dec. 2 to properly reflect the local support for revenue sharing reform.”

The letters, designed by MAC, detail the case for House Bills 4274-75, which would create a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for counties. See details and talking points by clicking here.

“It is critical that we get as many letters of support as possible,” Bosworth explained. “The bills will not move through the process in lame duck without a significant campaign. The governor is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

“We know that we have the votes in the Senate to support this and put it on the governor’s desk,” Bosworth added. “The hold up is actually getting them up for a vote. … And the stumbling block that we’re hearing is that we need the governor to actually ask the Legislature to do this, to make it an item that she would like to see done in the lame duck session.”

Commissioners, if you have not already done so, please coordinate with your county administrator in the next few days to ensure a letter of support from you is sent in.

Please direct any questions about the RSTF legislation to bosworth@micounties.org.

 

GOP leader unveils $2.7B road plan; MAC studying proposal

A $2.7 billion road funding plan surfaced in Lansing Friday, courtesy of the expected 2025 speaker of the house, Rep. Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo).

Hall presented this proposal in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call for the House to find a solution to the road funding crisis during the current “lame duck” legislative session. Whitmer has not yet indicated whether she backs Hall’s plan.

The General Fund would take a major hit should this plan be enacted, with $1.8 billion coming from corporate income tax revenue, plus another $1 billion coming from reallocating the sales tax on gas. The loss in sales tax dollars would be made up by increasing the fuel tax to keep schools, cities, villages and townships whole.

As you know, MAC is advocating for counties to receive a portion of the state’s sales tax revenue through Revenue Sharing Trust Fund legislation. For this reason, we will be closely monitoring the reimbursement mechanism here.

Bills have yet to be introduced to reflect Hall’s plan, but they are expected next week. There are between seven and nine session days remaining in 2024, which does not allow much time to negotiate or accommodate a lengthy committee process.

MAC does not yet have a formal position on Hall’s plan.

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

 

Legislature eyes changes to employer health insurance contribution caps

Bills aimed at revising or repealing Public Act 152 of 2011, the law that limits how much public employers can pay toward employee health insurance premiums, could get action in coming weeks in the Legislature. The proposals have sparked debate over the future of cost-sharing between public employers and employees and the role of collective bargaining in determining those costs.

House Bills 6136-42 would repeal of PA 152, which MAC strongly opposes. Repeal would remove existing cost-containment measures and open employer contributions to collective bargaining. This approach could lead to unsustainable cost increases for county governments and other public employers.

HB 6058, introduced as a more moderate alternative, would increase the hard caps for employer contributions:

  • $8,258 for single-person coverage
  • $17,271 for individual-and-spouse coverage
  • $22,523 for family coverage

These increases represent a jump of 7.25 percent from 2024 levels. The bill maintains an inflationary adjustment tied to the medical care component of the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), but adds a floor of a 3 percent annual increase, ensuring the caps rise even during periods of low inflation. On top of the indexed or 3 percent increase, the bill also allows for an additional 5 percent increase that would be a subject of bargaining. 

However, HB 6058 also makes significant changes to the 80/20 cost-sharing option. PA 152 now requires employers to pay “no more” than 80 percent of the cost of health premiums. HB 6058 would require employers to pay “no less” than 80 percent, effectively opening this provision to collective bargaining. MAC is concerned this change would reduce predictability for public employers and potentially increase costs.

Lastly, HB 6058 also allows for different bargaining units to have different caps, effectively slating some bargaining units to pay less for health premiums than others. 

In the Senate, similar changes are proposed under Senate Bills 1129-30. These bills also increase the hard caps to match those in HB 6058, with similar provisions for negotiating the additional 5 percent, but the Senate bills phase-in the additional measures up to 5 percent by 2029.

As far as how the 80/20 cost share split works in the Senate bills, they retain the “no more than 80 percent” language for cost-sharing while gradually raising the maximum employer contribution to 81.5 percent by 2029. By keeping the language intact, the Senate bills avoid reopening this issue to collective bargaining.

And like the House bill, the Senate bills also allow for different bargaining units to have different caps.

MAC opposes the repeal bills outright and has not yet endorsed any of the amendatory proposals from the House or Senate.

While MAC supports raising the hard caps to better reflect the rising costs of health care, MAC seeks a simpler approach to the readjustment by tying the caps to a more appropriate inflationary index that better tracks health insurance premium increases.

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

 

Podcast 83: MAC readies final push on governor about revenue sharing

County leaders soon will be asked to engage in a letter-writing campaign to urge the passage of bills creating a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, legislation for which has been bottled up in the Michigan Senate for months, MAC’s Deena Bosworth said in the latest episode of Podcast 83.

“The Revenue Sharing Trust Fund bills, just for a reminder for our members, are House Bills 4274-75. They passed out of the House last year by an overwhelming majority, 106-4, and they have been sitting in the Senate Finance Committee ever since. We have been trying and trying and trying to get these bills some movement,” Bosworth explained.

“We know that we have the votes in the Senate to support this and put it on the governor’s desk. The hold up is actually getting them up for a vote. … And the stumbling block that we’re hearing is that we need the governor to actually ask the Legislature to do this, to make it an item that she would like to see done in the lame duck session.

“So, our strategy at this point is we are going to put together a letter, and we are going to ask all of our county commissioners, our affiliates, everyone to sign this letter and send it back to us. It will be a letter to the governor asking the governor to make this a priority and ask the Legislature to move these bills forward,” Bosworth added.

In other legislative news:

MAC derailed a House vote last week on “minimum staffing” legislation that would cause no end of problems for county members.

“As a reminder for everyone, that’s to mandate that minimum staffing be a subject of bargaining for Public Act 312 employees that was initially posted on the House floor agenda for a vote (last) Wednesday,” said Samantha Gibson. “We were able to get that taken off the agenda … on Wednesday, and then again on Thursday, so we were able to avoid a House vote on that. Hopefully, we can continue that into December, but that is a difficult issue.”

A new attempt is being made to usurp local control over aggregate mining operations.

“The aggregate legislation was reintroduced with new sponsors,” said Madeline Fata. “And just to remind you all, it essentially preempts all local control, all zoning for sand and gravel mines, and it would put the permitting authority into the hands of (the state). … (W)hen the original bills were brought up for a hearing, it did not go so well. There was a lot of public pushback, a lot of local government pushback, even environmental pushback on it. So, we were kind of hopeful that the issue was dead, but it is rearing its ugly head again.”

To view the full episode, recorded on Nov. 18, click here.

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

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

 

MAC announces Thanksgiving week schedule

The Michigan Association of Counties will close its Lansing offices at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27 to observe the Thanksgiving holiday. MAC offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, Dec. 2 at 8 a.m.

MAC’s Legislative Update will next appear in your inbox on Friday, Dec. 6.

 

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 designed to assist appointed and elected officials.

Click here to register.

The next webinar will be on 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.”

 

Four Michigan county leaders graduate from NACo training

MAC would like to acknowledge and congratulate the November 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:

  • Brianne Lindsay, equalization director, Benzie County
  • Chris Roberts, network administrator, Grand Traverse County (Cybersecurity)
  • Jackie Palfey, human resource manager, Benzie County
  • Liana Wilson, IT director, Leelanau County (Cybersecurity)

The academy’s January Cohort is right around the corner. Invest in your workforce, empowering them to become better leaders today and into the future. Scholarships to honor the program’s 10th anniversary are now available through Dec. 31.

Click here to learn more and enroll.

 

Staff picks

Legislative Update 11-15-24

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

Intro webinar launches 2024 New Commissioner School

MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie welcomed nearly 100 newly elected and re-elected commissioners from both peninsulas on Thursday to the introductory webinar of the 2024 New Commissioner School, which MAC co-hosts with MSU Extension.

“We are the voice of counties in Lansing and beyond,” Currie noted in his remarks to attendees, emphasizing the resources MAC offers to members from advocacy to continuing education.

This training program, now in its sixth decade, blends on-demand digital learning pods with in-person sessions at convenient locations around the state.

Registration continues for the in-person sites in early December:

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

Participation in NCS also jumpstarts your credit totals in MAC’s County Commissioner Academy, our continuing education program. Those who complete NCS will earn a full 5 credit hours to CCA.

For more information on MAC’s educational programs, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

 

Septic code push resumes at Capitol

Stakeholders continue to vilify point-of-sale programs for the evaluation of septic tanks as new drafts of bills are circulated. The 10th iteration of the statewide septic code legislation can be found in the S-1 of Senate Bill 299; although significantly different from what was first introduced, it still contains the provision that all point-of-sale ordinances must be repealed.   

The Legislature and environmental community are eager to adopt a statewide septic code before the end of the year because Michigan is the only state without one and nearly all of Michigan waterways have tested positive for trace amounts of human fecal contamination. MAC is supportive of some elements of the legislation, including the implementation of best practices for the septic tank industry and any efforts by the state to create a database of tanks. 

In conversations between stakeholders, two schools of thought have emerged on addressing septic systems in Michigan:   

  • evaluations upon point-of-sale 
  • periodic evaluations 

MAC has been consistent about our support for the point-of-sale option. For many years, our policy platforms have included language supporting a county’s right to adopt a point-of-sale ordinance. Counties with these programs have exceptionally low failure rates as they’ve been able to capture more and more systems in need of repair over time. 

The Michigan Realtors Association has led the charge in opposing a point-of-sale program approach and prefers that evaluations of all septic systems in the state occur on a periodic basis. This would put the bulk of the responsibility of monitoring and enforcement on local health departments.

The opposition to the point-of-sale approach stems from the fear that real estate transactions will be delayed or fall through should there be a problem. Proponents of this approach believe that when homes are sold, the buyer should have assurance that the system is functional and safe. Additionally, point-of-sale is an ideal time financially to address these issues while large sums of money are being exchanged.

MAC is pleased to see the new bills allow the sunset for point-of-sale ordinances to go out 10 years (from the previous 1), and the time between evaluations has gone up to 10 years (from the previous 5). Newer drafts also include provisions for a longer phase-in period for the program.  

Still, this legislation is not ready. Any statewide septic code will mean major changes for homeowners, local governments, health departments and the state. Financial assurances for local governments to comply have not been secured, nor has the grant program for low-income households to fund any necessary repairs or replacements. MAC does not believe this legislation should be rushed through this year because it strips counties of the ability to regulate through point-of-sale ordinances and it places a financial burden on health departments and homeowners without a proper funding source.

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

 

County-opposed staffing bill avoids House vote

A bill to require minimum staffing levels as a mandatory subject of collective bargaining between a public employer and the representative of its employees was successfully removed from the House floor agenda this week due to MAC’s efforts.

House Bill 4688, by Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Calhoun), would amend the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) and specifies that “other terms and conditions of employment” would include minimum staffing levels within the bargaining unit and consider minimum staffing levels a condition of employment with respect to a bargaining representative’s collective bargaining responsibilities. The version voted onto the House floor included an amendment that would limit its application to only Public Act 312 employees, which was recently expanded to include corrections officers.

Making minimum staffing levels a mandatory topic of collective bargaining could increase staffing costs to counties. In addition to the potential for increased costs, many counties are facing staffing shortages. Implementing minimum staffing requirements when local governments are struggling to maintain fully staffed facilities will add to the difficulties counties already face when recruiting and retaining employees.

MAC opposes this legislation alongside the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Townships Association. A letter of opposition was shared with all House members this week.

MAC strongly encourages members to contact their legislators and inform them of the detrimental effects of this bill.

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

 

Senate committee approves 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 a vote on the Senate floor.

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

 

House committee approves state participation in federal emergency transport reimbursement program

A bill to require Michigan to participate in a federal medical transport program advanced to the House floor this week.

House Bill 5695, by Rep. Mike McFall (D-Oakland), requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to participate in the federal GEMT reimbursement program. MAC supports HB 5695.

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 health care 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 health care 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.

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

 

State guidance on Materials Management Planning remains murky

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has provided additional direction for counties moving forward in the Materials Management Planning process. Last week, MAC delivered an update on the status of the planning process and addressed concerns voiced by counties. MAC has since met with EGLE and other stakeholders to discuss these matters further.

EGLE indicated they have no intention of providing additional guidance on Work Programs and that following the language in subsection R 299.4704-4705 of the rules for Part 115 (see page 108) is the best way for a county to craft a Work Program. The idea is that the programs be higher level and less prescriptive. Some counties have already submitted Work Programs, so MAC asked EGLE to take one they find sufficient, strip it down and offer it as a template. The department has not agreed to do so.

For counties struggling to meet deadlines, EGLE again assured MAC that extensions will be granted. MAC was advised that any county seeking an extension should just contact the Materials Management Planning team at EGLE-MMP@Michigan.gov.

Lastly, the funding element remains uncertain. EGLE said securing the money for the grant is their top priority for the short term. As you know, counties are eligible for grant dollars once their Work Programs have been approved; however, the fund is currently empty.

MAC has requested an additional meeting with a smaller group of stakeholders to focus solely on planning and helping communities meet their needs as soon as possible. We will keep readers informed of any updates as they become available.

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

 

Podcast 83 reviews new House leadership in Lansing for 2025

Who will lead the Michigan House of Representatives was the focus of the newest episode of Podcast 83 this week.

With Republicans taking control with an apparent 58-52 majority in the House in 2025, Rep. Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) was chosen as the new speaker by the GOP Caucus last week. On the Democratic side, current Speaker Joe Tate (D-Wayne) is stepping out of leadership and Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Wayne) will be minority leader in 2025, MAC’s Deena Bosworth explained to Podcast 83 host Stephan Currie.

“What this means is the Republicans in the House and the Democrats in the Senate (which will start 2025 with a 19-18 edge in the 38-member chamber) are going to have to agree on some things if they plan on getting anything done,” Bosworth said.

Selection of new committee chairs in the House will occur in coming weeks, Bosworth added, likely finalizing in early January.

For the rest of the 2024 calendar, Madeline Fata said, “We were thinking nine or 12 (legislative) days. But the Senate has already knocked that down to eight or 11 days for themselves.”

Bosworth, however, said a “robust” lame-duck session is still in the offing, based on the number of major bills still in play and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ongoing pursuit of major economic development policy changes.

To conclude the episode, Currie reported that Michigan will have at least 135 new county commissioners in 2025, a turnover rate consistent with the historical pattern.

Those newbies, plus their colleagues, Currie noted, are urged to participate in MAC’s New Commissioner School, co-hosted with MSU Extension. County leaders should register soon by using this link.

To view the full episode, recorded on Nov. 12, 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.

 

Legislative Update 11-8-24

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

Election means divided government in Lansing in 2025

The Michigan House of Representatives has experienced a power shift following this week’s election, with Republicans winning enough seats to take control in the upcoming legislative session. Moving from a narrow Democratic majority of 56-54 to a Republican majority of 58-52.

The shift in control brings changes to the leadership structure in the House. Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo), the current minority leader, will assume the role of speaker of the House, while Rep. Brian Posthumus (R-Kent) will serve as floor leader. On the Democratic side, outgoing House Speaker Joe Tate has opted not to pursue the minority leadership position; instead, Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Wayne) has been elected to lead the Democratic caucus, with Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Kent) as minority floor leader.

As the current Democratic-led government maintains control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s office for the remainder of the year, the stage is set for a robust lame-duck session. With a Republican-controlled House on the horizon, Democrats are expected to prioritize action on such issues as labor laws and environmental policy that may face greater challenges under the new Republican leadership in 2025.

On the Senate side in Lansing, the election of state Sen. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Bay) to a congressional seat will create a vacancy and narrow the Democratic majority to one (19-18) until a special election can be held to fill her Senate seat. This could potentially complicate efforts to pass certain legislative goals that rely on complete party alignment.

This transition promises a dynamic new legislative term as Michigan’s leaders prepare to navigate the challenges of divided government.

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

 

MAC review finds 22 percent turnover in commissioner ranks

There will be at least 135 new faces on county boards of commissioners in Michigan, thanks to the decisions of voters in the Nov. 5 election.

A MAC review of unofficial results from the General Election shows 460 Republicans, 143 Democrats and 12 individuals without partisan affiliation were elected or re-elected. Four seats remain to be filled – one each in Alpena, Iron, Luce and Oscoda.

“The turnover rate of about 22 percent is consistent with prior election cycles,” said MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie. “We are excited to begin work with our new members, and we hope to see them at our upcoming New Commissioner School sessions.” (See item below about registration.)

The commissioners entering their new term for 2025 will be the first in Michigan to serve four years, a result of MAC’s successful campaign in 2021 to extend terms from the two-year limitation that had been in place since 1968.

 

Counties score well with voters on millage requests

Voters across Michigan approved nearly 90 percent of the county millage requests placed before them on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Forty-one of the 46 requests were favored to either renew or expand efforts in areas ranging from public safety and senior services to constructing a new community pool in Bay County.

Click here to see county-by-county results.

“The Nov. 5 election continues a pattern evident since the end of the Great Recession a decade ago in which counties all over the state have sought voter approval to maintain and improve the quality-of-life services counties provide, and the voters have approved,” said Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. “More than 90 percent of counties will be levying higher property tax rates in 2025 than they were in 2010,” he added. (See more of CRC’s analysis of this trend on page 14 of the February 2022 edition of Michigan Counties magazine.)

MAC appreciates the assistance of the Gongwer News Service in compiling this data.

 

MAC working with state to address materials management issues

In recent weeks, MAC has received member concerns about the Materials Management Planning process. At the same time, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has set up meetings with stakeholders to discuss potential cleanup language for the statute.

It seems that both the department and participating counties have simultaneously encountered bumps in the road during these initial steps in the process. MAC has had many discussions behind the scenes with both EGLE and other stakeholders, so we felt it was necessary to share some updates.

The deadline to file a Notice of Intent with EGLE was July 6, 2024. Counties then have 180 days, or until Jan. 2, 2025, to do all of the following:

  • Appoint a Designated Planning Agency (DPA)
  • Appoint a Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC)
  • DPA drafts a Work Program
  • MMPC approves Work Program
  • Work Program is submitted to EGLE
  • EGLE approves the Work Program

A county is eligible for grant funding once all of the above tasks have been completed. However, EGLE has yet to share with counties the guidelines for creating a Work Program. MAC has been told extensions may be granted, but that is not explicitly written in the law.

Additionally, MAC has been made aware that some counties are struggling to fill the 11 spots required for the MMPC. There is currently no mechanism for reducing the size of an MMPC or formally requesting an extension to fill those seats.

MAC is pursuing solutions to these problems, among other things, both in large workgroup settings and in private conversations with the department. The next stakeholder meeting is Nov. 8.

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

 

Michigan counties join Operation Green Light efforts

Counties across Michigan are showing their support for America’s veterans via Operation Green Light, a campaign by the National Association of Counties. MAC is aware of participation in: Chippewa (photo at left), St. Joseph (center photo), Genesee (photo at right), Oakland, Wexford, Midland, Lenawee and Kent. (Click here for a video on Kent’s activities.)

Operation Green Light shows support for veterans by lighting buildings green from Nov. 4-11, 2024, to let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported.

 

MAC offices to close for Veterans Day

MAC’s Lansing offices will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11 to observe Veterans Day in honor of those who served, including the nearly 500,000 veterans who now call Michigan home.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on Nov. 11, 1918. In 1938, through an act of Congress, Nov. 11 was made a legal holiday. In 1954, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

MAC offices will resume normal hours on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 8 a.m.

 

Podcast 83: Fielding your questions on commissioner pay, chair terms

In a wide-ranging episode recorded the day before the historic 2024 General Election, MAC’s Podcast 83 team addressed questions related to commissioner pay and board elections and reviewed a new MAC advocacy initiative for 2025.

In the wake of MAC’s success in getting four-year commissioner terms adopted for this cycle, MAC has been fielding questions on two themes:

  • What will change about how commissioner pay is set?
  • What will be different about how boards elect chairs and vice chairs?

On pay, Deena Bosworth reported, “We consulted legal counsel and had them do some work on it. And the response was, compensation for county commissioners has to be determined prior to the start of the new term. So now that they have four-year terms, they have to adopt their compensation prior to the end of this year, so prior to Dec. 31 2024, so that they know what their compensation is for this next term.

“They can’t change their compensation or, you know, vote on new compensation in January after they take office, so whoever is on the board now needs to determine what that compensation level is going to be going forward for the next term.”

On chairs and vice chairs, Bosworth explained, “The legislation that was adopted creating four-year terms for county commissioners … was done as a certain section of law. The other (relevant) sections of law have not been amended. So, what that means is, just as your process is now, you have to vote for a chair for a two-year term, unless your board has a resolution where you adopt a chair for a one-year cycle, and then one year cycle for your vice chair. So that, again, has not changed. … So even if you’re there for four years, that chairmanship is still only a two-year term, or one-year depending on your particular board rules.”

In the second half of the episode, Samantha Gibson reviewed MAC’s “CountiesUnited” campaign to launch in 2025 and which was teased at the 2024 Annual Conference in September.

“What we’re looking to provide for you all is not only an opportunity to shape and advance public policy in Lansing that is to the benefit of county government, but also give you some cool personal benefits that you can enjoy,” Gibson said. “You’ll get political updates from MAC’s Governmental Affairs team. … You know, pollsters, political pundits, really cool, interesting stuff that you know, maybe it’s a little inside baseball, but if you’re nerdy and you’re policy wonks like we are, you might get interested in the politics behind all things.

Gibson noted other benefits, keyed to new membership tiers for donating to MAC’s political affairs, will include special merchandise and invites to MAC events for key legislators (the “County Caucus”).

And listen all the way to the end of the episode to get answers on two burning questions:

  1. Who is the longest-serving county commissioner in Michigan?
  2. What color were Steve Currie’s socks on Monday, Nov. 4?

Click here to view the episode, recorded on Nov. 4.

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

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

 

Registration is open for 2025 NACo Legislative Conference in D.C.

The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.

Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, interact with officials of the new Administration and meet with members of Congress. This is a one-of-a-kind advocacy opportunity to strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships for years to come.

Access our registration portal here to register for the conference, which runs March 1-4, 2025.

For questions or assistance with registration contact us via email or phone at 202-942-4292 or nacomeetings@naco.org and indicate “Leg Conference 2025” in the subject line.

Until Jan. 10, 2025, registration is as low as $530.

Hotels for the event are:

Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009  
Room Rate: $275 single/double occupancy		 The Churchill
1914 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 
Room Rate: $270 single/double occupancy

 

Legislative Update 11-1-24

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

NACo releases opioid settlement ‘quick guide’ on monitoring spending

The National Association of Counties, in partnership with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, released The Principles Quick Guide to Monitoring Opioid Settlement Spending. This quick guide is one of many released to assist local governments in implementing The Principle for Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation, national guidance around the use of funds.

The guide points to how counties can maximize the impact of opioid settlement funds through a structured five-step process. First, they should establish a strategic plan based on recent needs assessments, outlining specific objectives that ensure new resources enhance existing efforts. Next, counties should match priorities with funding opportunities, aligning available sources with key interventions and care components in various settings, such as schools, jails and hospitals.

Once priorities are set, it is essential to select activities to fund, focusing on evidence-based and promising practices. The fourth step is to monitor the success of funded activities by establishing clear indicators and communicating data requirements to partners for accountability. Finally, counties should regularly evaluate community needs and program outputs, allowing for adjustments to strategies and budgets as necessary.

The guidance document also outlines how to use Opioid Settlement Principles Resource and Indicators (OSPRI) tool to determine the best indicators for the programs or activities counties choose to fund.

For more information or for assistance utilizing The Principles for Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation in your county, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Court reporter fee increase legislation gets hearing in Senate

A bill to increase court reporter and recorder fees received a hearing this week in the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Amendments made to House Bill 5046 in 2023 to address concerns about “double dipping” with county-employed court reporters or recorders producing transcripts have shifted MAC from opposition to support of the legislation.

Sponsored by Rep. Nate Shannon (D-Macomb), the bill would increase the amount a court reporter or recorder would receive from $1.75 to $3.75 per page on an original transcript, and 90 cents per page for each copy.

The amendments include updates to what the county and court reporters or recorders shall provide in the capture and production of transcripts, and the prioritization of court-funded transcripts and transcripts produced on county time.

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

 

ICYMI: Pundits discuss prospects for Michigan House elections

In a recent Podcast 83 episode, Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and John Selleck of Harbor Strategic handicap what appears to be a historically close 2024 General Election in Michigan. Hemond and Selleck focused on some key state House races, the open U.S. Senate seat and a few U.S. House races, delving in to what potential outcomes could mean for Michigan.

Hemond gave an overview of what he believes are the five most crucial state House races in November, commenting, “From my perspective, both sides have got plenty of seats that are in play this time.”

With a two-seat Democratic House Majority, Selleck added, “It’s an uphill battle for Democrats, and frankly the place we could end up that we have now started talking about is 55-55 (in the Michigan House).”

Click here to view the episode, recorded on Oct. 21.

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

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

 

Treasury seeks feedback on accounting, auditing documents

The Michigan Department of Treasury guides local governments on accounting and auditing through Numbered Letters and Michigan Committee on Governmental Accounting and Auditing (MCGAA) Statements. To keep this information relevant, we are updating and removing documents from 1993 to the present, aiming to refresh 20% of these publications annually. This process will include formatting updates and verifying all web links, with some documents potentially needing significant revisions or removal. The Local Audit and Finance Division is currently inviting public comments on selected Numbered Letters, which can now be submitted in writing until Dec. 2, 2024.

You can find the selected Numbered Letters Exposure Drafts for Public Comment below:

Comments may be submitted by email to LAFD_Audits@michigan.gov with the subject line entitled, “Numbered Letters Exposure Draft.”

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

Deadline for written comments: Dec. 2, 2024

For questions, call Treasury at 517-335-7469.

 

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