Trial court funding reform bills pass House committee Time-sensitive legislation to secure key trial court funding took its first step toward passage this week. House Bill 5392, by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson), extends a quickly approaching May 1, 2024, expiration (“sunset”) of the authority of trial courts to levy fees that constitute a key part […]
The MAC Board of Directors has voted to join the Citizens for Local Choice, a coalition of groups pushing for a statewide vote to repeal sections of a state law that put an unelected state panel in final charge of siting of energy generation facilities. “What we have heard from our own counties, and from […]
House committee hears testimony as trial court funding deadline looms Legislative efforts ramped up this week to address funding for Michigan’s trial courts, which are now facing the legal expiration of a key funding source. Action is now in the House Judiciary Committee and focused on two bills: House Bill 5392, by Rep. Sarah Lightner […]
Retired Adm. Peter Cressy, director of Executive Leadership Programs at the Washington Leadership Institute, will speak on: “Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Churchill: A Strategic Approach to Leading in Times of Crisis and Change: Washington and these other great leaders manifested eight common characteristics in leading during times of crisis and change, ranging from visibility and communication […]
Legislative Conference keynoter will address leadership in times of change Leading in times of crisis and change will be the theme of the keynote address at the 2024 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference, to be held April 29-May 1 in Lansing. Retired Adm. Peter Cressy, director of Executive Leadership Programs at the Washington Leadership Institute, will […]
House committee hears testimony on bill to help curb sheriff office staffing shortages House Bill 5203, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Oakland), would allow county boards of commissioners to choose if retired county employees who work at a sheriff’s office can continue to receive retirement benefits during a period of re-employment. Currently, if a person […]
MAC Team attends NACo Annual Legislative Conference The National Association of Counties (NACo) hosted its annual legislative conference earlier this week. Michigan was well represented at the conference with more than sixty commissioners in attendance, as well as several MAC staff members. Several attendees had the opportunity to meet with their respective congressional representatives. MAC […]
Governor’s FY25 budget proposal looks promising for counties A state General Fund budget proposal of $14 billion that includes a $26 million boost in county revenue sharing for fiscal 2025 received praise this week from the Michigan Association of Counties. “In light of the fact the governor is proposing a smaller General Fund amount for […]
MAC sets federal legislative priorities in 2024 In advance of next week’s National Association of Counties gathering in Washington, D.C., MAC has finalized its legislative priorities for 2024 on Capitol Hill. (Click here for downloadable PDF of the list.) “Proper funding for PILT, of course, is a perennial agenda item for MAC, as Michigan has […]
Counties: Importance of local governments missing from governor’s speech A vital tune was noticeably missing from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State “playlist” on Wednesday night: the importance and needs of local governments and the services they provide to Michigan. That was the assessment of MAC leaders following the governor’s concert-style speech in Lansing […]