New bipartisan bills introduced for 4-year commissioner terms Through its policy platforms, MAC has long supported moving county commissioner terms to four years from the present two. Legislation to do this made good progress in 2020 but did not reach enactment. We are back at work this year, though, with new bills — Senate Bill […]
How to navigate questions on in-person vs. hybrid vs. digital With state health orders reducing restrictions on indoor gatherings and hospitalization rates showing marked improvement in recent weeks, MAC has been fielding questions from members about moving out of purely virtual county board sessions. First, it’s important to remember two key dates in play about […]
Massive federal aid plan wends way through Congress Two versions of a massive federal response to the ongoing COVID crisis are now in play on Capitol Hill. Passage of either version would mean hundreds of millions of dollars for Michigan counties. The version passed by the U.S. House, the American Rescue Plan, has an overall […]
Senate approves GOP plan on COVID spending In another move over the dispute on how to spend billions in federal COVID aid for Michigan, the Senate approved a $2 billion supplemental spending plan advanced by the Republican majority this week, but not without heated debate. Senate Bill 114, by Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas (R-Midland), Â was […]
Broadband equipment property tax exemption passes the Senate SB 46, sponsored by Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Van Buren) is a bill that will exempt eligible high speed broadband equipment installed after December 31, 2020 from property taxes if that equipment resolves a lack of broadband service and can deliver at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) […]
MAC applauds revenue sharing, infrastructure plans in governor’s budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal 2022 budget proposal makes important and much needed boosts to local governments dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and to public infrastructure, said MAC’s executive director on Thursday. “We greatly appreciate the variety of recommendations for spending that recognize the ongoing demands on […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal 2022 budget proposal makes important and much needed boosts to local governments dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and to public infrastructure, said the head of the association representing counties Feb. 11. Stephan Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, responded to the FY22 budget presented in Lansing on Feb. […]
House passes COVID spending bills with ties to health power restrictions The House passed their $3.5B COVID relief funding plan on a largely party-line vote. House Bill 4019Â totals $868.6 million of federal COVID relief funding, and proposed under the bill to be spent mostly on the following: $510 million (15% increase) in monthly Supplemental Nutrition […]
Republicans, Whitmer clash on COVID spending, vaccine distribution Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans who control the Michigan House of Representatives have a $2 billion difference of opinion on what to do next, spending wise, to address the COVID-19 pandemic. House Republicans released their COVID spending proposal this week in the wake of Gov. Whitmer’s own […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s inclusion of infrastructure investments in her 2021 State of the State address tonight was welcomed by the association representing Michigan’s county governments. “We appreciate Gov. Whitmer’s call to improve our local roads and infrastructure. While this is not a new topic at the State Capitol, or at the local diner, it is […]