Stephan Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), Tuesday updated Barry County Commissioners on several matters important to county officials.
Currie spoke of many legislative issues that affect counties; proper funding of the courts, improving the delivery of child care funds that are sometimes slow.
Michigan’s infrastructure has an additional $178 million in 2018 to add to the gas tax and fee increases approved in 2015 that go into effect in the next few years, he said. Proper funding for Next Gen 911 centers with a fee at the state level passed this year.
MAC continues to work on more stable financing for county government, reform of the tax tribunal, adequate funding in community mental health programs, and managing foster care appeals, calling for more collaboration with courts, not less, Currie said.
Other issues include addressing legislative unfunded mandates and the cost of bills before passing them.
The state budget is still under construction and Currie talked of some proposals, but there are no final figures yet.
Also, broadband internet access, bills triggered by the MSU/Dr. Larry Nasser scandal and asset management of infrastructure with tools to assure better coordination of assets are being worked on, he said.
Currie doesn’t see a state wide program of septic system examination and management, “getting a lot of traction. I just wanted to put it on your radar.” He talked about the functions of county governments and programs offered to counties by the association. They are collecting “best practices” examples for the MAC website and invited the commission to submit some examples from Barry County.
Also, he asked for support for the MAC Pac of $18 from each commissioner in 2018.
In other business Tuesday commissioners approved the 2018 Equalization Values Report given by County Equalization Director Timothy Vandermark and the reappointment of Jodi Trantham to the Barry County Solid Waste Oversight Committee for the position of health associate/environmental professional to a term that expires Oct. 31, 2020.
