The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is now accepting grant applications to fund new staff positions in counties to assist military veterans with benefit claims. Under provisions of Public Act 252 of 2014, funds will be distributed with preference to counties that...
MAC committees on the environment and economic development are tackling some intriguing issues in their sessions on April 17. The Economic Committee will be looking at the value of altering state law on hotel/motel taxes. The Citizens Research Council of Michigan has...
LANSING, Mich. – County officials across Michigan are ready to work with majority Republicans in the Michigan House on key elements of their 2015 “Action Plan,” which was released today in Lansing. The Michigan Association of Counties, which represents the 622 county...
MAC's Deena Bosworth lays out the counties' position on the need for tax-capture reform in this story from Port Huron on the workings of downtown development authorities in St. Clair County: "These are unelected officials that are spending money on whatever they see...
Tax reform, protecting Medicaid and immigration reform are just three of several 2015 legislative priorities for the National Association of Counties. As NACo recently reported, "The 2015 legislative priorities are tax reform, protecting the federal-state-local...
While 2014 has been an outstanding year for MAC legislative initiatives (full revenue sharing funding, Cunningham court funding crisis averted), there always are debates that don't play out so well. Which, of course, means a redoubling of our efforts in the coming...
Some hopeful news for the holidays for Upper Peninsula residents: "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered hearing and settlement procedures on MISO’s proposed cost allocation for the Presque Isle Power Plant, which would cause steep rate increases for...
When it comes to decision-making, Republican Dave Maturen says he tries to start with an open mind. It's a skill he's honed over the four decades he's spent working as a property appraiser in Michigan. The 66-year-old from Brady Twp. likes data. He's studied the...
(Updated 12-19-14): In addition to retaining statewide elective offices and majorities in the Michigan Legislature, the Republican Party gained a small number of seats in the ranks of county commissioners, a MAC review of election results finds. Based on unofficial...
The U.S. Census Bureau recently presented a certificate of appreciation to MAC for work in support of the LUCA program. “The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program provided an opportunity for designated representatives of local, state and tribal governments...