Conference draws more than 300 to Mackinac Island; President Kuyers urges unity
More than 300 county leaders from across Michigan converged on Mackinac Island this week for the 2021 Michigan Counties Annual Conference, which culminated with the swearing in of Ottawa Commissioner Phil Kuyers as MAC Board president.
The conference, which was held at the Grand Hotel Sept. 26-28, featured plenary sessions, policy breakouts and the MAC Annual Business Meeting, where commissioners approved policy platforms for the 2021-22 year.
Kuyers, who is starting his third term on the MAC Board, is the 113th person to hold the president’s position.
In his speech after taking the oath on Monday, Sept. 27, Kuyers pledged to “raise up MAC as an example of unity, of bipartisanship, of civility and of common sense” in a time of controversy and high passions.
“You are here tonight and at this conference because you believe in the value of MAC. I urge you to lean on this organization like you never have before. Our comfort zone is gone, another victim of the pandemic. Expectations of county government are rising on new fronts from broadband service to affordable housing,” Kuyers continued. “MAC stands ready to help each of you, and your colleagues who are not here tonight, with navigating these new issues. But we must work together.”
Keynote addresses at the event included presentations by Deputy State Budget Director Bethany Wicksall and Dave Lorenz, who leads the highly popular Pure Michigan travel campaign.
Kuyers will lead a board that gained one new member via elections held at the conference: Melissa Daub of Wayne County. She will fill one of the three at-large seats on the MAC Board of Directors.
As the conference closed, the MAC Board confirmed officers for the 2021-22 term. Joining Kuyers are Stan Ponstein of Kent County (first vice president) and Eileen Kowall of Oakland County (second vice president). Veronica Klinefelt of Macomb County moves to the role of immediate past president.
“We were pleased with the attendance at our first in-person conference in two years,” said Stephan W. Currie, MAC’s executive director. “It speaks to the quality of the policy breakouts and keynote presentations that more than 300 county leaders set aside the time to join us.”
Governor calls mask-budget links unconstitutional in budget message
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the FY22 state budget this week, but only after a few line-item vetoes and deeming certain boilerplate provisions unconstitutional and unenforceable.
The budget presented to the governor included language that “unappropriated” funding of local public health departments if a heath officer has an emergency order in place authorized under the Public Health Code- unless a county board of commission votes to support the order.
In a letter to lawmakers, the governor stated that penalizing local health departments for using their power given to them by the Public Health Code violates the Michigan Constitution. The letter cites both Article 3, section 2 and Article 4, section 25, which provide for separation of powers and no act is to be amended by reference, respectively.
For more information on this issue, please see the text of the transmittal letter or contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.
U.S. Treasury resets key deadline on ARP reporting
The U.S. Treasury has revised its timeline for counties to submit their Project and Expenditure Reports for the Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Treasury has set aside the original deadline of Oct. 31, 2021, citing comments and feedback gathered during the Interim Report and Recovery Plan Performance Report process.
The Project and Expenditure Reports will now be due on Jan. 31, 2022, and will cover the period between award date and Dec. 31, 2021. Further instructions will be provided at a later date, including updates to existing guidance as well as a user guide to assist recipients to gather and submit the information through Treasury’s Portal.
Please visit the Treasury’s website at www.Treasury.gov/SLFRPReporting for the latest information.
Presentations from 2021 Annual Conference now available
Presentation slides from all of the plenary sessions and MAC policy breakouts at the 2021 Annual Conference are now available on the MAC website.
Among the highlights are:
- A breakdown of the state budget process by Deputy State Budget Director Bethany Wicksall
- The MAC Legislative Update
- A primer on Michigan’s voting process by Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck
- Research studies on the problems with, and potential solutions for, Michigan’s local taxation system
Also on the conference page, you will find Facebook videos of three of the breakout sessions.
Check out the 2021 Annual Conference photo gallery
As is always the case when MAC and MCMCFC visit Mackinac Island, there are plenty of photo opportunities – and MAC’s conference photographer, Rod Sanford, captured them.
To see yourself and others, just visit our online gallery.
And this year, MAC is doing something special: If you would like to have a high-resolution version of a gallery photo that is suitable for printing and framing, just make a donation to MACPAC of $10 or more and send the photo ID number to intern2@micounties.org and we will send you the digital file for printing.
Daub joins MAC Board after regional caucuses; 4 incumbents re-elected
New executive team members for the MAC Board are (l-r): Stan Ponstein, first vice president; Eileen Kowall, second vice president; Veronica Klinefelt, immediate past president; and Phil Kuyers, president.
During regional caucuses held at the Michigan Counties Annual Conference Sept. 26-28, MAC members re-elected four incumbents and selected a new at-large director for the MAC Board of Directors.
Melissa Daub of Wayne County fills the vacancy created when Kalamazoo Commissioner Julie Rogers was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020.
“Upon taking office, I immediately became involved with the Michigan Association of Counties to share ideas with my colleagues across the state, as well as the work we’re doing in Wayne County,” said Daub. “Today, I’m proud to be named an at-large member for the MAC Board of Directors and to be continuing my focus on transportation needs in my home county and across the state, as well as tackling the many other shared issues we see at the county level.”
Daub was first elected to the Wayne County Commission in 2018. She represents District 10, which includes Canton Township, Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth. A proud graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School, Commissioner Daub holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Incumbent board members were returned to the Board from MAC’s Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5.
President Phil Kuyers of Ottawa County will be starting his third term on the board from Region 2 (Southwest Michigan).
Joe Stevens of Dickinson (Region 1 – Upper Peninsula) and Christian Marcus of Antrim (Region 2 – Northwest Michigan) also were elected to third terms. Eileen Kowall of Oakland (Region 5, Southeast Michigan) was elected to her second term and to serve as second vice president of the Board.
Board members can serve a maximum of three 3-year terms.
Policy survey invitation heading to county leaders next week
An invitation to participate in the next wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is coming next week to your mailbox.
The MPPS is a statewide survey of local government officials conducted since 2009 by the University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) and co-sponsored by MAC.
On Monday, Oct. 4, you will receive an email link to the new MPPS questionnaire, which asks about issues in your county related to materials management, waste collection, and recycling.
The MPPS studies don’t just end up on someone’s shelf—they are used by legislators, the media, the public, and government officials to better understand what local leaders like you feel is important, right now. Your participation is crucial to the success of the MPPS program.
Reports and data from previous MPPS surveys can be found on the MPPS website: http://mpps.umich.edu.
If you have questions about this research study, contact Dr. Debra Horner, CLOSUP, University of Michigan, 5309 Weill Hall, 735 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-615-5315 or closup-mpps@umich.edu.
Staff picks
During regional caucuses held at the Michigan Counties Annual Conference Sept. 26-28, MAC members re-elected four incumbents and selected a new at-large director for the MAC Board of Directors.
Daub
Melissa Daub of Wayne County fills the vacancy created when Kalamazoo Commissioner Julie Rogers was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020.
“Upon taking office, I immediately became involved with the Michigan Association of Counties to share ideas with my colleagues across the state, as well as the work we’re doing in Wayne County,” said Daub. “Today, I’m proud to be named an at-large member for the MAC Board of Directors and to be continuing my focus on transportation needs in my home county and across the state, as well as tackling the many other shared issues we see at the county level.”
Kuyers
Daub was first elected to the Wayne County Commission in 2018. She represents District 10, which includes Canton Township, Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth. A proud graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School, Commissioner Daub holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Incumbent board members were returned to the Board from MAC’s Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5.
President Phil Kuyers of Ottawa County will be starting his third term on the board from Region 2 (Southwest Michigan).
After taking the oath as president at the Annual Conference Banquet on Sept. 27, Kuyers pledged to “raise up MAC as an example of unity, of bipartisanship, of civility and of common sense” in a time of controversy and high passions. Kuyers is the 113th person to serve as president of MAC, which was first organized in 1898.
Joe Stevens of Dickinson (Region 1 – Upper Peninsula) and Christian Marcus of Antrim (Region 2 – Northwest Michigan) also were elected to third terms. Eileen Kowall of Oakland (Region 5, Southeast Michigan) was elected to her second term and to serve as second vice president of the Board.
Board members can serve a maximum of three 3-year terms.
County revenue sharing increase highlights FY22 budget
Lawmakers and the governor reached a deal on the FY22 budget this week, just days before the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year. The budget allocates $10.4 billion in General Fund dollars.
The budget includes a 2 percent increase in the base for county revenue sharing, but retained the language requiring the increase in revenue sharing in counties that have been deemed to be in an underfunded status with their pension system to go toward those pension obligations.
Other items of note include:
- $148.9M in Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Grants, which includes implementation of standard 5
- $14.5M for PFAS Remediation Grants
- $13M to fund a Dam Safety Grant Program, with an additional $6M for the Emergency Dam Safety Action Fund
- $14.3M in High Water Infrastructure Grants
- $16M in a one-time appropriation to the state 911 fund for NextGen Infrastructure
- This appropriation allows the Legislature to eliminate a fee increase in House Bill 5026 for postpaid phones and reduce the fee increase for prepaid
- $29.1M to the Raise the Age Fund, which is to cover cost outside of Child Care Fund eligible expenses for 17-year-olds
- EMS Medicaid fee schedule would be set at 100 percent of Medicare, which is an increase of $54.3M
- $51.4M for essential local public health services, with strings attached depending on local health orders: “If a local health officer has an emergency order under section 2453 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.2453, in effect as of October 1, 2021, the funds appropriated in part 1 for essential local public health services are unappropriated. This subsection does not apply if a county board of commissioners passes a nonbinding resolution by a record roll call vote to support any emergency orders the local health officer has in effect on October 1 of the current fiscal year.”
According to news sources, “Language in the budget that would strip local health departments of their state funding if they have an emergency health order in place to protect against COVID-19 without the assent of their county board of commissioners will likely be deemed unenforceable by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.” MAC expects more legal information to be released soon.
In other county-related details:
- $5.2B transportation budget includes an additional $52.8M for local road agencies for a total to local road agencies of $1.8B.
- $414.5M gross ($146.1M GF) for a $2.35 per hour direct care worker wage increase.
- $26.5M gross, ($5M GF) (6 FTEs) to support a two-year implementation for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration program
- $5.1M for the second year of a five-year phase-out of the use of Local CMH Local Match funding to support the Medicaid Restricted Mental Health Services line
- $4.25M to the county veteran service fund, $200,000 of which can be used by the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency to fund administration and technical assistance to counties
- $2M in one-time money for the secondary road patrol grant program is to compensate for lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing total support to the program at $15M
- $14.8M in the county jail reimbursement program, and agreement to remove language that bars reimbursement for any county that enacts or enforces any law or ordinance concerning the immigration status of an individual
- $2M for local conservation district operational support with an additional $1M one-time funding for FY22
- $45M in Federal funds for Water Infrastructure Improvement Grants for the City of Flint
- $2.1M increase to fully fund PILT payments
- $3M increase for the Michigan Infrastructure Council
Of the $6.5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the state of Michigan, the FY22 budget and supplemental for FY21 utilizes just more than $770 million, including $150 million for the Unemployment Trust Fund. The remaining $5.76 billion will be allocated through a series of supplemental budget bills expected to begin negotiations this fall.
For more information about the budget, please contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org or Meghann Keit-Corrion at Keit@micounties.org.
U.S. Treasury provides guidance on Capital Projects Fund
This week, U.S. Treasury released new guidance for the $10 billion Capital Projects Fund that was authorized under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). It is important to note that these are grants for states, which can then be awarded to subrecipients (i.e., counties).
Key points from the guidance include:
- Provides $10 billion to U.S. Treasury to provide payments to states, territories, freely associated states and tribal governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19
- All funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. Recipients must return to Treasury any grant funds that are not used by the end of the period of performance on Dec. 31, 2026 (Treasury has the authority to provide grant extensions to the period of performance if a recipient requests one).
- For a Capital Project to be an eligible use of funds, it must meet all of the following three criteria (additional information on eligible projects below):
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- The Capital Project invests in capital assets designed to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring
- The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need that resulted from or was made apparent or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency
- The Capital Project is designed to address a critical need of the community to be served by it
Ineligible projects include:
- General infrastructure projects, such as highways, bridges, transit systems and ports
- General construction and improvement of hospitals and traditional schools are not presumed to be eligible projects
- Neither the Davis-Bacon Act nor Davis-Bacon Act-related provisions requirements apply to projects funded solely with award funds from the Capital Projects Fund. However, similar to the Recovery Fund, recipients may be subject to the requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act, when Capital Projects Fund grant funds are used on a construction project in conjunction with funds from another federal program that requires enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act.
Additional information:
MAC voices opposition to mental health bills in Senate
MAC testified in opposition this week to Senate Bills 597-98, by Sens. Mike Shirkey (R-Jackson) and John Bizon (R-Calhoun) respectively. The bills would financially integrate physical and mental health through private health plan administration.
MAC’s Meghann Keit-Corrion explained to the Senate Government Operations Committee members that, “MAC members feel strongly that the CMH system and its natural connection to county elected officials provides necessary accountability to quality care and coordination. A financial administrative shift to private health plans would significantly hinder the ability for local partners to provide important community treatment.”
MAC has heard from members who are very concerned with the shifting to private interests, whose priorities could be profit-driven and may not have the shared initiatives or partnerships within the county. Additionally, focus should be turned toward expanding on the true integration model at the service level, such as with Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and Behavioral Health Homes.
During testimony, Keit-Corrion urged legislators to collaborate with counties to focus on solutions addressing critical staffing shortages and the lack of inpatient care. See Keit-Corrion’s full testimony (beginning at 47:10 mark of video).
For questions, please contact Meghann Keit-Corrion at keit@micounties.org.
Currie participates in Mackinac panel on ARP and equity
MAC Executive Director Stephan Currie discussed how county governments can work with the nonprofit sector to propel an equitable recovery with of American Rescue Plan funds at the 2021 Detroit Chamber of Commerce’s Mackinac Policy Conference this week.
Currie was invited to the panel addressing for “Opportunities for Transformative Partnerships to Advance Equitable Recovery” on Wednesday. The session explored the challenges and opportunities this influx of federal funding presents and how collaborative partnerships are critical to effectively leveraging federal funding to best serve communities.
During the panel, Currie also discussed MAC’s engagement with the Council of Michigan Foundations and the state’s community foundations for presentations in MAC’s 2021 Regional Summit series over the summer.
MAC also hosted CMF’s Kyle Caldwell on Podcast 83 to discuss how counties and community foundations can work in tandem to boost public amenities and quality of life.
In addition to Caldwell, Currie was joined on the panel by Alize Asberry Payne, racial equity officer for Washtenaw County.
What is the ‘deadline’ for county apportionment work?
MAC has received questions from members on deadlines involving county apportionment as they relate to the U.S. Census Bureau’s release of data from Census 2020. Justin Roebuck, clerk of Ottawa County, provided some background from his research:
“Apparently, there are two different definitions of the date when the Census Bureau (CB) will release (or has released) ‘official data.’
“On Aug. 12, the CB released the bulk of the data, which included block data on population, and which they called “official.” However, they had scheduled for Sept. 30 a final release of all data, which would include some of the demographic data not yet available. (The Sept. 30 date has subsequently been moved up to Sept. 16.)
“Guidance for map submittal from the Secretary of State and Bureau of Elections from the beginning has been based on the September release of all data, but a number of county clerks, as well as other County Apportionment Commission members, have raised concerns citing MCL 46.401, which indicates we must submit our final county maps no later than 60 days after the release of ‘official’ data from the CB. The Michigan Association of County Clerks obtained a legal opinion stating that the 60-day clock began on Aug. 12, and that Oct. 11 was actually the date that final maps should be submitted. Subsequently, the Bureau of Elections asked for an Attorney General’s Office opinion on the matter, and they received a memo from the AG’s Office indicating that the clock should start on the September 16 release date, meaning Nov. 15 would be the final date for map submittal.”
“In addition to that, a few counties have now asked the Court of Appeals for an extension of the October date, just to be sure and give themselves enough time. Branch County received an extension from the court.”
MAC will continue to collect and share information on this issue as it becomes available.
Treasury’s ‘Chart Chat’ webinar set for Sept. 30
The Michigan Department of Treasury will host its next “Chart Chat” webinar on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.
The Chart Chat series provides updates to local government officials on accounting-related topics, updates from the Michigan Department of Treasury and information on sound fiscal management.
This session will cover:
- Accounting for marijuana revenues
- Fund balance designations
- Using taxable value as a fiscal indicator
- Navigating Treasury’s online resources
To register, click here.
The department also maintains a webpage with numbered letters, memorandums, webinars, and resources regarding COVID-19 updates for local governments and school districts. This webpage was created to ensure Michigan communities have access to the most up-to-date guidance.
Staff picks
FY22 budget deal announced; 2% boost on revenue sharing expected
A fiscal 2022 state budget deal is in hand, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders announced this week, just days before the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1.
The Legislature is set to push through a single omnibus spending bill covering the funding for all state departments for FY22. The House and Senate Conference Committee could take up the bill as soon as Tuesday, Sept. 21, with a floor vote expected within the week. Although, details have yet to be released as to what’s inside this budget, MAC is expecting a 2 percent increase in county revenue sharing.
Not included in the omnibus budget bill will be the $6 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the state or the $1 billion surplus identified in the May Revenue Estimating Conference. These funds will be part of supplemental bills passed throughout the rest of calendar 2021, after all sides have had time to negotiate for the inclusion of their priorities.
MAC will continue to monitor the FY22 budget and supplemental bills as they move through the Legislature.
For more information on this issue, please contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.
MAC-opposed mental health bills get hearing in Senate
Two bills to revamp the state’s mental health system in ways opposed by MAC received their first hearing before the Senate Government Operations Committee this week.
Senate Bills 597-598 would shift administration of Medicaid mental health services to private health plans through the creation of specialty integrated plans. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R- Jackson) sponsored SB 597 and also chairs the committee; SB 598 is sponsored by Sen. John Bizon (R-Calhoun).
In testimony before the committee, the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHAM) outlined opposition and major areas of concern, including higher costs and lack of public accountability and oversight. Rather than dismantling the current system, CMHAM urged legislators to build from the point of service delivery, rather than taking a top-down financial approach these bills seek to integrate.
Nearly all testimony this week encouraged lawmakers to focus on improving access and staffing shortages across the workforce. Representatives from the Michigan Association of Health Plans testified in support for the bills. A full video of testimony can be found here.
MAC has long opposed a shift to a private health plans and supports local governance and accountability rooted in the mental health code. This structure allows partnerships across county-based services, including responding to those who come in contact with the county sheriff department and/or jail, local court system, juvenile justice system, health department or local hospital.
Another committee hearing is expected to be held on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.
For more information on this issue, contact Meghann Keit-Corrion at keit@micounties.org.
Regional meetings set for ARP local government funding
On March 11, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021 establishing the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, $130 billion of which is earmarked for distribution to local governments. Generally, allowable uses of the fund include (but are not limited to):
- Responding to or mitigating the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Providing government services to the extent of a reduction in revenue
- Making necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure
- Responding to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers
Member regions of the Michigan Association of Regions will host Michigan State University (MSU) Extension faculty and local and tribal government officials to explore Local Fiscal Recovery Fund spending opportunities in a regional context. Join other local leaders to learn about:
- ARP Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Basic Rules
- Best Practices for Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Spending
- Practical Considerations for Contracts, Accounting, and Project Management
- Group Discussions Related to Regional Collaboration
- Leveraging Other State and Federal Funding and Priorities
The workshops are intended for regional planning and development board members, other local elected and appointed officials, tribal government officials, economic development practitioners and other public and nonprofit community development organization staff.
Program details
All workshops run 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (registration opens at 9 a.m. for in-person programs). Format varies by region: virtual (exclusive Zoom), hybrid (choice of in-person or Zoom attendance) or in-person.
All events are free.
The first session is set for Sept. 23 in Traverse City. To see the full list of dates, locations and registration information, click here.
Staff picks
unity. County officials often have broad discretion, but they’re not solely responsible for the growth in our jails.
