New report shows vital role that property taxes play in delivering county services
With talk of property tax changes swirling around Lansing, a new report from the University of Michigan highlights the central role that such taxes have in delivering vital county services.
“In FY 2024, counties continue to be the most reliant on property taxes, with 58.8 percent of their general fund revenue coming from this source,” states the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) in its “Fiscal Health of Michigan Local Governments” report. “Since FY 2022, reliance (on property taxes) has declined slightly across most jurisdiction types ― except for counties.” (emphasis added)
By contrast, while townships (39%) and villages (21%) rely notably on revenue sharing payments from the state, the median county only gets 5 percent of its General Fund resources from revenue sharing.
“Michigan local governments continue to exhibit generally stable budgetary solvency, but signs of strain are emerging across both general governmental and enterprise operations,” the report stated.
“Michigan’s system of local service delivery relies on the property tax. MAC’s position has long been that any discussion of property tax changes must be conducted with that fundamental principle in mind,” said MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie.
“We also would highlight for legislators’ attention a couple of additional data points. First, Michigan’s property tax burden is ranked 29th in the country by the Tax Foundation (TF), while TF had Michigan with the fifth-lowest state/local tax burden in 2022,” Currie added.
Learn more at 2026 Legislative Conference
Jared Walczak of the Tax Foundation will speak on Tuesday, April 28 at the Michigan Counties Legislative Conference on property taxes, including his 2025 report, “There’s No Good Way to Pay for Property Tax Repeal.” To register for the conference, click here.
For more information on MAC’s tax advocacy, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.
Medical examiner legislation made law with governor’s signature
Legislation to require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to establish an online platform for medical certifications of death and stipulates when a medical examiner must investigate the cause of death for an individual without medical attendance was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday.
House Bills 4077 and 4078, by Reps. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and Mike Mueller (R-Genesee), could create cost savings for counties.
HB 4077 allows for cost savings for counties that do not currently use an online death reporting system. The change to online reporting would allow for labor cost savings. Also under HB 4077, removing the provisions for when a case must be referred to a county medical examiner would reduce workload and cost.
MAC supported the bills, which are now Public Acts 3 and 4 of 2026.
For more information, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Bills to move state primary date pass Senate
Legislation to move the August primary election to May was approved by the Senate with bipartisan support on Wednesday.
Senate Bills 691-698, by lead sponsor Sen. Sam Singh (D-Ingham), would allow a primary election to be held on the February election date, remove the August primary and require primary elections that would have been in August to be moved to May and make other logistical changes related to candidate filing dates.
SB 691 would alleviate the quick and burdensome period between the August and November election dates and provide clerks with the needed time to prepare for and administer elections.
MAC is neutral on the legislation. The Michigan Association of County Clerks has indicated support.
For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
State department opposes sale of Consumers Energy dams
In a rare move on March 11, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urged the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to oppose Consumers Energy’s proposed sale of 13 dams (see map at right) to Confluence Hydro, a subsidiary of a Maryland-based private equity firm.
Under the agreement, Consumers Energy would sell the 13 dams for $1 each. In return, Confluence Hydro would sell power back at $160 per megawatt hour — roughly double the typical price of hydropower.
Consumers and Confluence Hydro say concerns raised by the DNR and NRC are out of step with local feedback, noting that many community members near dam impoundments want the dams kept in place for recreation. Confluence Hydro points to plans they claim will maintain, upgrade and relicense the dams as a response.
The DNR is urging regulators to require new owners to account for future decommissioning costs, warning that without it, these dams could become larger problems over time if not properly managed by a private entity.
The Natural Resources Commission has indicated it will be drafting a formal resolution in opposition to the sale.
MAC has not taken a formal position on the dispute, but is concerned about impacts on counties balancing recreation, environmental protection and potential long-term financial responsibility if costs shift back to local communities.
For more information, contact Jimmy Johnson at Johnson@micounties.org.
House backs expanded use of vehicle inspection fees
Legislation to expand the uses of money derived from vehicle inspection fees gained near unanimous approval in the Michigan House this week.
Under current statute, salvage vehicle inspection fees collected by Michigan law enforcement agencies may only be used for law enforcement purposes related directly to stolen vehicles.
Under House Bill 5234, by Rep. Brian BeGole (R-Shiawassee), governments would have more eligible uses, such as equipment, training and road patrol services that are necessary to protect public health or safety. The bill cleared the House Rules Committee and now moves to the House floor.
MAC supports HB 5234.
For more information, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Podcast 83: Michigan House takes aim at clean energy standards, cap on work hours of retired sheriff employees
In a quick-hit episode this week, MAC’s Podcast 83 team discussed the House’s efforts to do away with two policies: the state’s clean energy standards and a cap on the number of hours worked by retired sheriff employees who return to service.
House Bill 5711, by Rep. Pat Outman (R-Montcalm) “would repeal the 100 percent clean energy standards by 2040 that was put into effect in 2023,” said Samantha Gibson, “and that coincided with the wind and solar reform efforts that we saw a few years back as well, the total preemption of local control for wind and solar siting. This is part of a larger effort that House Republicans have put forth to kind of walk back the energy reforms that the Democratic ‘trifecta’ did a few years ago.”
House Bill 4471, by Rep. Mike Harris (R-Oakland) seeks to remove the 1,000-hour cap on rehiring former sheriff’s office employees.
“I want to say it’s 13 counties that are not part of MERS and they cannot rehire former employees at the sheriff’s office for over 1,000 hours,” Gibson said. “Obviously, all the sheriff’s offices are facing staffing shortages in the jails and for road patrol, so bringing those additional counties in would allow them to alleviate some of those shortages.”
For more details, including a summary of a House report on Michigan’s food assistance program, watch the full episode, recorded March 16, by clicking here or on the image above.
What is Counties United PAC?
A recent mailing from MAC’s political action committee (PAC) has raised some questions with commissioners.
To clarify, Counties United PAC is the new name for MACPAC.
There is only one MAC-affiliated PAC.
Counties United is your voice in Lansing — amplified. It allows MAC to support state legislators who understand county government and stand with county leaders on the critical issues we face, including public safety, infrastructure, unfunded mandates and equitable state funding.
Counties United members will have the opportunity to meet with legislators on important topics and attend Counties United events and fundraisers with other members from around the state. These functions and other membership activities will enable you to become well-versed in state and federal legislative issues. As a Counties United member, you will be a part of our strong grass-roots effort, and you can make the opportunity what you wish it to be. You will have access to information, experience and MAC’s knowledgeable staff — the perfect combination to help MAC become an even stronger voice on behalf of your county. (See more details in the image below.)
To make an easy online donation, visit the MAC website or just click here.
Remember, Counties United is the only political action committee devoted to assisting legislators who are allies of county government.
For questions about the PAC, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.
Staff picks
- Video highlights from the 2026 NACo Legislative Conference (NACo County News)
- ‘Who can pay the most wins’: The battle over West Michigan’s farmland (Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun)
- 6 living men took a DNA test to solve one mystery: Whose bones are in Leonardo da Vinci’s grave? (Popular Mechanics)
- Businesses can’t require microchip implants for workers under new Washington law (RouteFifty)