Important conversations held during the Mackinac Policy Conference The Detroit Regional Chamber hosted its annual Mackinac Policy Conference this week on Mackinac Island. The event brings together business, community, and policy leaders in Michigan to have conversations on the biggest issues facing the state. Steve Currie, MAC’s Executive Director and Deena Bosworth, MAC’s Director of […]
MAC-backed safety bills advance from Senate committee Three bills on local public safety were approved by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee this week that MAC supports. House Bill 4719, by Rep. Robert Bezotte (R-Livingston), a former sheriff and county commissioner, would require a person convicted of first-degree murder be immediately committed to the […]
Tax cut legislation includes property tax reimbursements for counties In swift action this week, the House and Senate put forth and passed an income tax cut bill that would also allocate funding to local governments for their losses due to the veterans property tax exemption. Such reimbursements are a key MAC policy priority in 2022. […]
Michigan voters to rule on changes to legislative term limits The Michigan Legislature approved a ballot proposal this week that would let voters decide on term limit changes to House and Senate members in November. The House voted in favor, 76-28, of the proposal and the Senate voted in favor the same day, 26-6. Both […]
FOIA bills threaten integrity of public bodies Legislation that alters the Freedom of Information Act in ways detrimental to county government will be up before the House Committee on Oversight (Chair Steve Johnson) next week and MAC needs your voice to urge the House to set aside this ill-advised package. Among the problems in the […]
By Will Hansen/Communications and Marketing Intern In 1980, Doug Johnson was four years into ownership of his father’s company, Mid-North Printing, in Gaylord. Living and working in a county seat of just 3,000, Johnson already knew several county commissioners and the importance of public service. So, when a vacancy occurred on the Otsego County Board, […]
MAC applauds Senate work on revenue sharing; House plan disappoints A 10 percent boost in county revenue sharing took another step to enactment this week when the Senate Appropriations Committee passed out the fiscal 2023 General Government budget. Senate Bill 831, by Sen. Roger Victory (R-Ottawa), calls for a 5 percent ongoing increase in revenue […]
Senate panel signs off on 10% boost for revenue sharing A 10 percent increase for county revenue sharing for fiscal 2023 took another step toward enactment this week when the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, chaired by Sen. Roger Victory (R-Ottawa), passed out its FY23 recommendations. Included in this budget is a recommendation to […]
House resolution names April as County Government Month To mark National County Government Month (NCGM) in April, the Michigan House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution drafted by MAC noting the key contributions that county governments make to daily life in our state. State Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, herself a former county commissioner and […]
Michigan Supreme Court hears challenge to local judges’ ability to collect costs The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments this week in Lansing on People v. Johnson, which challenges the state statute allowing judges to impose court costs on convicted defendants. Critics of state law say it’s unconstitutional for a judge to oversee a criminal case […]