(Updated 12-19-14): In addition to retaining statewide elective offices and majorities in the Michigan Legislature, the Republican Party gained a small number of seats in the ranks of county commissioners, a MAC review of election results finds.

Based on unofficial election results, the Republicans now hold 396 of the 622 seats, a gain of 3 seats. Democrats hold 217 seats, a drop of 5, and candidates labeled as unaffiliated hold 9 seats, a gain of 2.

Republicans also hold a wide margin in control of county boards of commissioners:

• 59 boards have GOP majorities
• 23 boards have Democratic majorities
• 1 board is tied (Alpena Co.)

Partisan control shifted in five counties due to election results: Clare (D to R); Kalamazoo (R to D); Manistee (D to R); Monroe (D to R); and Schoolcraft (D to R).

Of the 622 commissioners in 2015, 136 will be new to the office, MAC found. This turnover rate of 22 percent is consistent with historical results.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently presented a certificate of appreciation to MAC for work in support of the LUCA program. “The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program provided an opportunity for designated representatives of local, state and tribal governments to review addresses contained in the Census Bureau’s MAF/TIGER database.” LUCA was made possible by an act of Congress in 1994. In the photo above, David Schuler of the bureau’s Chicago Regional Office presents the certificate to Tim McGuire, executive director of MAC.

For more information about the LUCA program, visit https://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/luca_overview.html.

Four of five county road millage questions gained approval from the voters Tuesday night. Eaton County’s millage proposal to levy 1.5 mills for local roads appears to have passed, the Lansing State Journal reports. Meanwhile, voters in Midland, Otsego and Ottawa counties easily approved plans to raise millions for local roads. However, Lapeer County voters rejected a roads millage. MAC congratulates these counties on their road efforts, while still noting that a permanent solution to Michigan’s transportation crisis must come from the State Capitol. Speaking after his re-election victory, Gov. Rick Snyder told the media that a transportation funding measure would be a top priority for him in the post-election legislative session. MAC supports a 1 percent sales tax increase dedicated to roads as the best method to raise the funds needed to handle the crisis.

Six counties — Eaton, Mecosta, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa and St. Clair — are among local governments landing funds via the “Competitive Grant Assistance Program” for work they are doing on “mergers, consolidations, interlocal agreements and cooperative efforts,” the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.

All together, the six counties will receive about $4.5 million.

Oakland will receive the lion’s share of that sum, $3.8 million for “collaboration by three counties to form the Great Lakes Water Authority” to fix and upgrade the Detroit water system.

The amounts and purposes for the other awards are:

• Eaton, $10,0001, for collaboration by area communities to determine the feasibility of shared recycling services.
• Mecosta, $601,641, for consolidation of morgue services with Newaygo County.
• Oceana, $13,750, for collaboration by area communities to determine the feasibility of shared fire services.
• Ottawa, $31,588, for consolidation of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office with the Village of Spring Lake/City of Ferrysburg Police Department.
• St. Clair, $10,500, for collaboration with Sanilac County to determine the feasibility of shared public health services.

For more information on the program, visit its official Web page.