Podcast 83: In Lansing, all roads lead to roads right now

In their newest legislative update, MAC’s Podcast 83 team again took a deep dive into the no. 1 issue in Lansing right now: roads.

“Huge talk in Lansing is about an influx of dollars into the local road system,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director. “The vast majority of the money that they’re talking about right now (would be) going to county roads, then to city roads and, lastly, to (the Michigan Department of Transportation).

“It’s about a $3 billion package,” Bosworth continued, “They’ve carved out a little bit of money for bridges. I want to say a little. We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, but money for bridges, money for county road systems, money for city road systems and then some money for actually township roads, too, so that they don’t necessarily have to come up with a big match on the design part of the projects, where county roads are or where the county is responsible for the roads.”

MAC testified in support of the package in a House committee on Tuesday, Bosworth noted, joining such groups as the Michigan Municipal League and the County Road Association in support.

“(W)e’re slightly concerned about what some of this decrease in General Fund (to finance the road investment) will mean later down the road, but again, you can’t really look a gift horse in the mouth with your $1.4 billion additional every year going into the county road system,” she said.

In other news, Jimmy Johnson gave an update on work for a permanent fix for trial court funding: “(The Legislature) created the Trial Court Funding Act of 2024, which is requiring the Supreme Court Administrative Office, under the direction and supervision of the Supreme Court, to analyze and determine these certain costs and revenues that trial courts are working on. So that sunset right now and for them to have that report completed and presented to everyone is going to be May 1, 2026.”

As part of this work, Johnson said, there is a Funding Distribution Team: “Now this group is going to be charged with recommending a plan to establish the Trial Court Fund, and that’s going to be designed to centralize all the generated revenue from the trial courts.

“Their most recent update was that they held a vote on which functions currently receive money from court assessments, and what should be considered court operations and therefore continue to receive money from court assessments via the Trial Court Fund. They were able to reach a consensus, it says, on two-thirds of the votes. Now, again, we don’t know exactly what those are. We’re basically getting kind of like a high level ‘this is what we’re discussing.’”

To view the full episode, recorded on March 18, click here.

Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.

And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.

Michigan Judicial Council gives update on trial court funding

This 2023 chart shows the existing breakdown of trial court funding in Michigan.

This week, the Michigan Judicial Council released a status update from their Alternative Funding for Trial Courts implementation teams. These teams are responsible for making recommendations on a permanent funding model for trial courts. The four implementation teams are focused on:

1. Operational Costs Funding Model
2. Funding Distribution
3. Uniform Assessments and Indigency Determination
4. Collections Systems

The Operational Costs Funding Model team is tasked with developing the financial plan for Michigan’s trial courts under the new funding model. This includes determining and recommending appropriate funding levels for each trial court.

One key issue they are currently working on is whether the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) should be static or adjusted periodically, and what triggers an adjustment once the MOE is established. This is an important area to watch, as it could have a direct financial impact on counties. A complete concept paper on this issue will be finalized by the end of April.

Meanwhile, a Funding Distribution Implementation Team is responsible for recommending a plan to establish a Trial Court Fund. This fund would centralize all revenue generated by trial courts and create a process for redistributing court-generated revenue back to the courts.

In its latest update, the funding team voted on which functions currently receiving money from court assessments should continue to receive funding via the Trial Court Fund. The team reached a two-thirds consensus on all but three of the funds under consideration. These recommendations will be presented to the entire workgroup at its April meeting. For the funds the team did not reach a consensus on, they will present two options for consideration, along with arguments from both sides.

At this time, MAC does not have full details on what the Funding Distribution Team agreed or disagreed on, as we only received a general update from the workgroup. We will continue to closely follow this process.

For more information on this issue, contact Jimmy Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.

 

MAC launches annual Opioid Settlement Funds Survey

The Michigan Association of Counties, in partnership with Public Sector Consultants, is conducting the second annual opioid settlement county reporting survey on opioid settlement funds.

The survey allows MAC to:

• Update the Opioid Settlement Resource Center dashboard
• Understand annual reporting information on the planning for, and utilization of, opioid settlement funds
• Provide useful technical assistance for counties

Following the survey, the MAC Opioid Settlement Center dashboard will be updated and a report will be created to share about efforts taking place across the state. To see the report from the first annual opioid settlement county reporting survey, see the Michigan Opioid Settlement County Reporting: Data Overview – June 2024.

For additional information or no-cost technical assistance, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Celebrate National County Government Month in April

National County Government Month (NCGM), held each April, is an annual celebration of county government. Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged counties to actively promote county roles and responsibilities in serving residents.  

Through participating in NCGM, your county can:

• Champion the county workforce (Michigan counties collectively employ more than 40,000 people from Monroe to Gogebic)
• Boost civic engagement and strengthen connections between government and residents
• Raise public awareness of programs and services provided to the community

In 2024, MAC arranged with Rep. Julie Rogers, a former Kalamazoo County commissioner and MAC Board member, for a House resolution in support of NCGM.

A sample proclamation, sample press release, celebration ideas, social media resources and more can be found at https://bit.ly/CountyMonth2025

And please share your NCGM events and news with MAC by emailing Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

 

MSHDA announces new process to reserve CDBG funds through MI Neighborhood

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is pleased to announce a new streamlined process to reserve Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds. The CDBG Program, funded through MI Neighborhood, is expanding eligible activities and increasing the maximum funding amount a unit of local government can request up to $1.5 million.

Letters of Intent, the first step of the process to reserve funding, are now being accepted. CDBG funds are available to non-entitlement units of general local government — cities, towns, townships, villages, or counties not currently receiving a direct allocation of CDBG funds from HUD. A reference map can be found on our website. 

MSHDA is currently accepting LOI for funding from eligible Units of General Local Government (UGLG) for proposals that meet the housing objectives of the CDBG Program. These letters will be used to establish eligible projects. If approved, grantees will receive a reservation memo reserving funds, as a formal application and CDBG compliance steps are completed.

To be considered for funding, submit a LOI form online via the MI Neighborhood CDBG page or print and mail LOI submissions (via overnight mail only) to the attention of MSHDA NDD, 735 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912. 

To learn more about the process, MSHDA is hosting a Q&A session on April 3 at 10 a.m.:

Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 265 746 348 873
Passcode: zC6gg9Mx

All submissions must be stamped/submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2025.

After submission, you may be contacted for a consultation prior to reservation of funds.

Submit any questions to MSHDA-CDBG@michigan.gov.

 

University uses MAC work as basis for national guidance on opioid funds

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has released national transparency guidance, A Principles Quick Guide on Transparency for Opioid Settlement Fund Management. Amy Dolinky, MAC’s technical adviser on opioid settlements, worked with Hopkins to develop the guidance, which is adapted from MAC’s Transparency, Monitoring and Accountability Guidance Document.

Dolinky also authored a blog post on the new guidance highlighting why transparency matters and the importance of incorporating transparency across planning and spending efforts associated with settlement funds.

The guidance focuses on three key areas for considering transparency: planning, funding, and monitoring, and then suggests reflecting on what has been done and refining the transparency work as needed. Throughout each phase of work, three universal considerations should also be incorporated: community inclusion, conflict of interest management, and the establishment of a centralized information platform.

For more information or for technical assistance with opioid settlement planning and spending, contact Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Staff picks

• Federal cuts to Medicaid: What counties should know (NACo)
  
  
• Palisades nuclear plant receives second federal loan disbursement (WGHN)
  
  
• New bill would loosen various BEAD rules (RouteFifty)
  
  
• Michigan’s newest PFAS threat: Contamination from household septic systems (Bridge Michigan)

Podcast 83: Is it big-money time for counties on roads?

A Republican road funding proposal that could mean a whopping $1.44 billion in new county road dollars was the focus of this week’s episode of Podcast 83.

“If (the House GOP plan) goes through, it would mean a significant influx of dollars into the county road system,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director.

“What the bills basically do is they allocate the gas tax, the tax on that you pay at the gas pump, and the sales tax, turn that into a gas tax, and then dedicate all of that revenue to the roads,” she explained.

“Counties will get about $340 million of that revenue to go toward their roads,” Bosworth said. “But, in addition to that, they’re also talking about taking General Fund dollars and switching around some business taxes, finding some savings elsewhere and then putting an additional $1.1 billion into the county road system, which is a huge windfall.”

Of course, there’s a potential catch: “The only thing that we might be concerned about is the hit that it’s going to take on the state’s General Fund,” Bosworth noted. “Counties are reliant on a lot of General Fund appropriations: our revenue sharing, our court funding or what goes to public health departments. … So, we’ll have to wait and see … if the state’s going to really be able to balance the budget, still maintain all of those priorities and do this huge influx into the roads.”

Also in the episode:

Bosworth noted the need for counties to keep wary eye on state budget politics this year after passage of an “essentials” budget in the Michigan House that would cut into revenue sharing: “It’s definitely not what we want to see … on revenue sharing, because what they did was they take that $30 million that we were getting in those adjusted taxable value payments for revenue sharing. … In fiscal year 25, it’s $30 million they did not include that in their budget (for fiscal 2026). And then they took the base revenue sharing amount, which we were getting $261 million of, and dropped that down to $256 million … This is a long budget process, and we know the Senate was not happy with what came over. So, I think it just is more setting the stage, doing the infighting, before we get to actually down to figuring out what the real budget is going to be.”

Governmental Affairs Specialist Jimmy Johnson discussed MAC’s activities at the 2025 National Association of Counties’ Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.: “Sen. (Gary) Peters (D-Michigan) was very gracious with his time (at a MAC-arranged briefing). And one big thing that he touched on was the Selfridge Air Base and how important that is,” Johnson said.

To view the full episode, recorded on March 10, click here.

Previous episodes can be seen at MAC’s YouTube Channel.

And you always can find details about Podcast 83 on the MAC website.

Expansion of indigent defense to juveniles clears committee

Juvenile defendants would receive help through the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) under a bill backed by the House Judiciary Committee this week.

The committee took testimony from MIDC Executive Director Kristen Staley and Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson) in support of House Bill 4070, which aims to expand the scope of the commission to include juvenile defense.

The bill would:

• Increase the number of members on the MIDC from 18 to 19, with the additional member being an expert in juvenile defense, thus ensuring the commission will have specialized expertise in juvenile justice
• Amend the funding disbursement system to an initial 40 percent payment, followed by three 20 percent payments (the current system is an initial 50% and two 25% payments)

MAC currently has concerns with the proposed disbursement model, as well as the MIDC having the authority to determine indigency. We are currently working with legislators on these technical changes as the bill moves to the House floor.

For more information on this issue, contact Jimmy Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.

 

Juvenile transport bill advances out of House

A bill to allow juvenile offenders who are 16 or older to be transported with adult offenders under the age of 25, if they are taken into custody at the same time for the same crime or if they were involved in the offense together, gained House approval this week.

Under House Bill 4018, by Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Genesee), a juvenile in these situations still would be separated from the adult offender as soon as possible. Proponents argue this would save time and resources, easing the burden on law enforcement agencies.

After the 74-34 vote in the House, the bill, supported by MAC and the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, moves to the Senate.

For more information on this issue, contact Jimmy Johnson at johnson@micounties.org.

 

State provides resources on sick time transition

On Feb. 21, Michigan’s new Earned Sick Time Act went into effect. This new law allows for increased flexibility for workers to earn paid sick leave. The new reforms will be phased in over time, giving small businesses time to adjust. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has developed resources to help both workers and businesses understand the changes. Visit their website to:

• Watch their Earned Sick Time Act webinar.
• View presentation slides.
• Review frequently asked questions (FAQs).
• See posting requirements.

 

Dolinky rejoins MAC in opioids role

Dolinky

Amy Dolinky has returned to MAC’s staff in her prior role as technical adviser, opioid settlement funds planning and capacity building. Dolinky originally filled that role in 2022 but departed MAC at the end of 2024 to explore other opportunities.

Prior to joining MAC, she served as a Senior Program Manager, Overdose Data to Action with the CDC Foundation and as the Senior Adviser of Michigan’s Opioid Strategy with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, Dolinky served as the Substance Misuse Response Coordinator, leading strategic planning around substance use with Knox County government in Tennessee.

“We could not be happier that Amy has rejoined us,” said MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie. “Her work in this field is nationally recognized and her expertise will continue to be a major benefit to our members.”

Dolinky holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration with a focus on global health from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Loyola University New Orleans.

Members with questions on opioid settlement issues may contact Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.

 

Ag Department issues tips on preventing bird flu spread

Michigan has been battling highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a.k.a. bird flu, for over three years. The virus has heavily impacted our backyard and commercial poultry farmers, increased the price of eggs, and, in March of 2024, crossed over into Michigan’s dairy cattle. While the virus is primarily spread by migratory wild birds, it can also be moved to new areas by people on their shoes, clothes, car tires, and more. Anyone has the potential to spread HPAI, particularly if they move between farming locations on the same day.

HPAI is a virus found among various species of wild and domestic birds. The disease can infect domestic poultry, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.

The virus has even been detected in various wild and domestic species of mammals – including dairy cattle and poultry – presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds or materials contaminated by infected animals.

So, how can you help stop the spread of bird flu? These risk reduction measures, otherwise known as biosecurity, include:

• As much as possible, wearing rubber boots and using a disinfectant like a boot wash or using disposable shoe covers. Remember the virus can be moved on clothes and shoes.
• Spraying vehicle tires with disinfectant at a property’s entrance and when exiting as well as adhering to any biosecurity signs and procedures.
• Parking in an area in the sun and on a hard surface (like gravel or cement), as much as possible.
• Bringing only the tools, equipment, or materials that are essential, and disinfecting them in between uses.
• Following good hand washing and cleansing practices. Wash hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 15 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

The HPAI virus can survive longer under cold and wet conditions (weeks to months) than under warm, dry conditions (hours to days). Being mindful of how the virus can spread and preventing that transmission is fundamental to being able to curb its impact and protect both animal and human health throughout the state.

For more information on HPAI, please visit www.michigan.gov/birdflu.

 

Recycling conference offers plenty for county leaders

As your county revises its materials management plans according to Part 115, do you find yourself with more questions than answers? Address these concerns at Michigan’s largest annual recycling conference May 13-15.

The Michigan Recycling Coalition’s 43rd Annual Conference provides a variety of opportunities for attendees to share and learn recycling best practices. This year’s conference is in Muskegon and features expert-led sessions addressing critical issues impacting county leaders, including recycling for multi-family housing, expanding organics recovery programs, setting planning goals and reducing construction waste.

Enjoy exceptional networking activities with other county and municipal leaders. Sign up for tour packages and volunteer activities to witness firsthand how recycling and composting operations function.

Click here to learn and register today.

 

NACo invites applications for 2025 Achievement Awards

Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.

If you are ready to begin your application, click here to access the application portal. In addition, you can use the portal to view, edit and submit previously saved applications.

Email awards@naco.org for additional assistance.

Applications are due March 31, 2025.

 

Utility foundation seeks contest entries from rural communities

Counties and municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents may have a chance at $25,000 to “put your community on the map” under a contest from the Consumers Energy Foundation.

To be eligible for “Put Your Town on the Map,” an entry must be:

• From rural municipalities with a population up to 10,000
• From a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or municipality
• Community-focused (no individuals, businesses, corporations or LLCs)
• An idea that is conceptual or in the startup phase (previously attempted projects not allowed)
• From territory that is served by Consumers Energy

Only one submission can come from any given municipality.

Submission deadline is March 28. For more details, see the contest flier.

 

Staff picks

• Small towns in the US are better for upward mobility, study finds (CityLab)
  
  
• Michigan awards $1.3M in Rural Readiness Grants to expand economic opportunity and strengthen communities (Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity)
  
  
• Annual Report on Solid Waste Landfilled in Michigan 2024 (Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy)
  
  
• World’s oldest llama enjoys comforting chronically ill children in North Carolina (Associated Press)

Counties are biggest winner in House GOP’s $3 billion road plan

Michigan counties stand to gain huge new resources for infrastructure under a road plan unveiled by the Republican majority in the Michigan House this week.

Embodied in House Bills 4180-87, the plan would eliminate the sales tax on fuel purchases and replace it with an equivalent increase in the gas tax, ensuring all taxes paid at the pump are exclusively dedicated to road funding.

While the proposal prioritizes road improvements, it also results in a reduction in revenue for the state’s General Fund, constitutional revenue sharing and the School Aid Fund. However, the plan includes provisions to hold schools harmless financially in this shift.

The gas tax revenue generated would be distributed through the existing Public Act 51 formula, leading to the following estimates:

• $340 million to the county road system
• $340 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
• $200 million for city roads

The plan also proposes an infusion of $2.2 billion from the Corporate Income Tax to further support local road infrastructure, with estimated distributions as follows:

• $1.1 billion for county roads
• $880 million for city roads
• $220 million to MDOT

While schools are protected from funding reductions under this plan, city, village, and township constitutional revenue sharing allocations will face cuts. Counties, which do not receive constitutional revenue sharing, are not directly affected in this regard but will see a substantial increase in road funding under the proposed plan.

This funding shift underscores a commitment to addressing Michigan’s longstanding infrastructure challenges, ensuring taxes collected at the pump directly benefit road maintenance and construction. The concern is that fewer dollars for the General Fund could shrink statutory revenue sharing for counties, making it all the more critical that the Legislature adopt MAC’s plan for a dedicated Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.

MAC will closely examine the implications of these proposals. The debate over balancing road investment with broader state and local fiscal responsibilities is expected to shape the conversation in the coming weeks.

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

MAC’s 2025 Member Directory arrives

County commissioners and other county leaders across Michigan should be receiving an important document in their mailboxes this week: the 2025 MAC Membership Directory.

The annual document, with more than 140 pages of information, is mailed free of charge to:

• County commissioners
• County administrators
• County board offices
• Countywide elected officials

As usual, the directory includes:

• Listings of elected officials in each of Michigan’s 83 counties
• Listings of members of the Michigan Legislature and the state’s delegation in the U.S. Congress
• Background material on MAC’s advocacy activities
• A brief history of county government in Michigan

The digital version of the directory will be linked to MAC’s website, with access credentials to be found on Table of Contents page of printed editions.

For corrections or updates to the digital edition, please contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

Legislature sends Minimum Wage and Earned Sick Time Act bills to governor

The Michigan Legislature has officially passed House Bill 4002, amending the existing Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA).  The bill is tie-barred to SB 8, which amends the Improved Workforce opportunity Act (minimum wage law). Both bills were acted upon this week and have been presented to the governor for her signature. The debate went right up to the last day before the current acts scheduled implementation on Friday, February 21st. With negotiations finalized in the eleventh hour, the House and Senate reached a compromise that significantly alters ESTA’s provisions and preserves the tipped credit system for tipped workers’ wages.

SB 8, by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-Macomb), incrementally increases the minimum wage from $12.48 per hour starting Feb. 21, 2025, and goes up each January until it reaches $15 per hour in 2027. For tipped workers, the minimum wage will be 38 percent of the regular minimum wage for 2025 and incrementally increase until they are paid 50 percent of the minimum wage in January 2031. 

The ESTA bill, by Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-St. Clair), changed significantly before heading to the governor.  The bill redefines small employer to mean an employer with 10 or fewer employees.  Their obligations under this bill will require them to provide to their employees 40 hours of paid earned sick time starting Oct. 1, 2025. These employees will be allowed to carry over up to 40 hours of unused time from year to year.  All other employers with 11 or more employees will be required to provide their employees with 72 hours of paid earned sick time and allow them to carry over unused hours up to 72. 

Employers will have two options of granting their employees earned sick time, either by the accrual method of one hour earned for every 30 worked, or by frontloading the entire time at the beginning of the year. However, if an employer opts to frontload the hours, they may do so immediately but will not be required to allow carryover of the hours or pay out unused sick time at the end of the year. 

Seasonal employees cannot use sick time within 120 days of hire, unless the employer opts to front load the hours as opposed to using the accrual method. For those employees that are rehired within two months, they will be allowed to recoup previously accrued time, but those rehired after two months start fresh on sick time accrual.

Other exemptions from the paid leave act include variable hour employees, unpaid trainees and interns and those youth working under a work permit. 

Employers may frontload sick time for part-time employees but must do so proportionally based on an initial estimated workload, but if the part-time employee exceeds the work hour estimate, then employers must grant them the same as other employees, that is one hour per 30 hours worked.

For employee’s usage of the sick time, they must notify the employer at least seven days prior for foreseeable usage of the time and as soon as practicable or follow the employer’s written sick time policy, for unforeseen sick time, provided the policy allows notice after the employee becomes aware of the need.

Many counties combine sick time and vacation time. This may continue, but there are parameters around it. The first 72 hours of paid time off are subject to ESTA conditions. Any additional leave beyond 72 hours can be used according to employer-defined PTO or vacation policies. 

If the employee is a subject of a collective bargaining agreement, the existing employer contract will remain valid for up to three years from enactment of this law, even if it conflicts with ESTA.

For more information on this issue, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.