Join MAC on June 10 for a ‘Midterm’ refresher on commissioner duties
MAC is pleased to announce another joint learning opportunity for county commissioners between its County Commissioner Academy and MSU Extension on June 10, 2026.
Time and location: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kirtland Community College, 4800 W. Four Mile Road, Grayling, MI 49738.
Click here to register for June 10 event in Grayling.
With county commissioner terms now four years in length, 2026 marks “midterm” for county officials. A new event, “NCS Midterms” is a day-long session that will build on foundations from the traditional New Commissioner School (last held in late 2024) and lessons commissioners have learned in the first two years of their terms. Participants will gain deeper understanding of county finances and how state and federal decisions may impact the next few years, discuss examples of successful intergovernmental relationships, and build skills to navigate today’s challenging political environment and lead a thriving community.
What will be covered:
- State and local fiscal outlook: Hear an overview of the state and county fiscal outlook, including impacts of the recent state and federal legislation, with a focus on implications for county governance and decision-making.
- Intergovernmental collaboration best practices: A panel of county officials will discuss how they successfully manage intergovernmental collaboration, including building capacity to provide contracted services to local governments in their county. Learn promising practices and consider the role of commissioners in building strong collaborative efforts.
- Effective governance in a challenging climate: When facing complex challenges, extraordinary governance is essential to success. This session will focus on navigating political challenges through ethical public service and value guided leadership.
- Networking with other county officials: Make use of time together to network with other county officials and learn new perspectives and approaches to addressing challenges similar to those in your own county.
Who should attend: The format is aimed at county commissioners, but it also is valuable for administrative staff and other elected county officials.
Cost: $75 per person more than 30 days prior to an event; $100 within 30 days (includes lunch, snacks and materials). Registrations cancelled after registration closes will incur a $25 cancellation fee.
Registration deadline: June 3, 2026
Attendance options: The June 10 event is in-person only. This is the first of two sessions to be held in 2026; the second opportunity will be Oct. 7 in East Lansing. Details of that session will be released in late summer.
Learning credits: This new event will earn a commissioner 2 credits toward their “Year 2” certificate in MAC’s County Commissioner Academy.
Special promotion: The first 40 county commissioners who register will receive a complimentary copy of Michigan’s County Courthouses, a 200-page volume detailing the history of our state’s 83 courthouses over the last 150 years.
Questions?
- For questions on registration issues, contact MSU Extension’s Eric Walcott at walcott3@msu.edu.
- For questions about MAC’s County Commissioner Academy, contact Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.
Big revenue sharing news out of Senate is highlight of new Podcast 83 episode
Fresh off their first live taping at the 2026 Legislative Conference, MAC’s Podcast 83 team reconvened in their regular Zoom “studio” to discuss increasingly bright prospects for counties in the State Capitol.
“Budgets are getting done earlier than we’ve ever expected or would have thought so far out of the chambers, and a huge, huge win coming out of the Senate. Deena, why don’t you tell us about it,” said host Stephan Currie.
“Do I get to dance a little jig while I do it?” MAC’s Deena Bosworth retorted.
“So, the Senate went long (in session) and kicked out their omnibus budget along partisan lines, which we expected,” Bosworth continued. “But the best news is our Revenue Sharing Trust Fund bills passed out of the Senate unanimously. And I mean, that’s even better than how it came out of the House last term, which was four no votes out of 110, so I almost consider that unanimous. But it was a fantastic result. Just delighted to see it. It’s been our number one priority, our number one policy priority for many years running.
“And it looks like … It might finally be soup.”
Also in the episode, Currie and Bosworth reviewed:
- The first round of testimony on House Republican plans for property tax changes
- Prospects for statutory revenue sharing increases for fiscal 2027
- Possible state responses to the crisis with dams and other water infrastructure in Michigan
- Legislation aimed at boosting housing affordability by restricting local control on development rules
For more details, view the full episode by clicking here or on the image above.
Overdose Prevention Coalition releases toolkit for local officials
The Michigan Overdose Prevention Coalition (MOPC) released a new toolkit for local decision-makers, Local Policy Change Toolkit. The toolkit is directed at local governments interested in becoming more supportive of harm reduction and reducing preventable drug overdoses. The toolkit provides practical guidance on advancing harm reduction strategies, strengthening community partnerships, and aligning local policies with public health best practices.
The toolkit highlights a range of overdose prevention approaches, including naloxone access and distribution, syringe services programs, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, overdose education, and increased access to medications for opioid use disorder. It also addresses broader policy considerations such as reducing stigma, engaging stakeholders, improving cross-sector collaboration, and navigating local regulatory or zoning barriers that may affect implementation.
In addition to policy guidance, the toolkit includes examples, messaging strategies, and implementation considerations intended to help communities build public understanding and support for overdose prevention efforts. The resource is particularly valuable for counties seeking actionable strategies to address the ongoing overdose crisis through coordinated approaches.
For more information or technical assistance, contact MAC’s Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.
Mechanics of fees, fines are subject of May 14 ‘Fiscally Ready’ webinar
Join the Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan State University Extension on May 14 for the next “Fiscally Ready Communities” training opportunity. This FREE training will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.
Nuts and Bolts: Fees, Fines, Purchasing and Receipting
Building a culture of fiscal sustainability is essential to local government fiscal health. Well-thought-out policies on fees, fines, purchasing, and receipting lead to clear rules and fair treatment, which are essential pillars to that culture of fiscal sustainability. This webinar will include a deep dive into best practices related to fees, fines, purchasing, receipting, and more. It will cover what they are, why such policies are necessary, how they contribute to local fiscal health, and how to get started on implementation.
What will be covered:
- Building a culture of fiscal sustainability
- Policy best practices for fee and fine structure
- Case study examples
- How strong receipting and purchasing practices strengthen local fiscal health
- Best practices for implementation
If you have any questions, please email TreasLocalGov@michigan.gov with the subject line “Fiscally Ready.”
Staff picks
- Michigan drivers pay significantly higher auto insurance rates than neighboring states (Forbes)
- Mackinac conference to confront Michigan’s slide in key indicators (Crain’s Detroit Business)
- State-by-State Property Tax at a Glance (data tool) (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)
- Tax land, not buildings, to spur development (New America Fellows)