NEWS

MAC releases 2018 legislative priorities, with focus on fiscal reforms in Lansing

Jan 25, 2018 | Uncategorized

Michigan’s 83 counties, the state’s front-line public service agencies, enter 2018 seeking significant changes to state revenue practices to enhance fiscal responsibility across the state.

Keying off remarks made by Gov. Rick Snyder during his State of the State Address on Jan. 23, Michigan Association of Counties Executive Director Stephan Currie said, “This is the year, with Michigan’s economy showing such health, to address the consequences of decisions and trends dating back a decade. Counties, which rely heavily on property taxes to deliver key services, have not recovered from the Great Recession as the state has. Nor will they for many years under existing state policies. Reform is the order of the day in Lansing.”

To that end, MAC, which represents Michigan’s 83 counties, released its 2018 State Priorities on Jan. 24, which include:

  • Reforming Michigan’s System of Financing Local Government by addressing the artificial restrictions on property values imposed by Proposal A in the 1990s and bolstering the state’s commitment to counties by increasing revenue sharing funds. “The state was able to forgo more than $1 billion in revenue sharing payments to counties during the budgetary crisis of the mid-‘00s to tide it over during the crisis. Now that the state is in a healthy position again, it’s proper to turn the focus to the ongoing crisis in local service delivery,” Currie said.
  • Reforming the Michigan Tax Tribunal by closing the “Dark Stores” loophole that has led to Big Box retailers receiving huge property tax breaks that add even more of a burden on homeowners and mom-and-pop businesses to fund local services.
  • Reforming state law on “tax captures” by unelected development districts by blocking the diversion of funds from special millages approved by local voters for specific services, such as law enforcement or aid for veterans. “When voters tax themselves for a specific purpose, all those funds should go to that purpose,” Currie noted.

“We look forward to working with leaders in the House and Senate, and Gov. Snyder, to advance these reforms,” Currie said.

Recent News

April designated as County Government Month via House resolution

A legislative resolution sponsored by MAC was among activities in April to mark National County Government Month. Rep. Steve Frisbie, a former Calhoun County commissioner now serving his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives, sponsored a resolution (HR...

Legislative Update 4-18-25

MAC testifies for public safety fund bills; House committee advances them Legislation to create a Public Safety Trust Fund advanced from the House Committee on Government Operations on Thursday after taking testimony from MAC and others in support of the concept....

Legislative Update 4-11-25

Deadline extended on Opioid Settlement Funds Survey The second annual opioid settlement county reporting survey will remain open until April 21. MAC, in partnership with Public Sector Consultants (PSC), is conducting the survey. The survey allows MAC to: Update the...

Legislative Update 4-4-25

Legislative Conference begins Monday in Lansing More than 300 county and business leaders will gather in Lansing April 7-9 to hear from state leaders and policymakers at the 2025 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference, co-hosted by MAC and the Michigan County...

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.  ...

Categories

Archives

Archives