Podcast 83

Podcast 83 Legislative Update May 20, 2026

MAC’s Stephan Currie and Deena Bosworth discuss positive news coming out of the State Capitol in the newest episode of Podcast 83. First, a key state panel determined on May 15 that lawmakers will have slightly more money in the fiscal 2027 General Fund than was expected in January. “We anticipated a slight decrease in the General Fund availability for fiscal year 27,” said Bosworth. “The good news is, when all the wonderful economic minds that be got together and came up with their estimate, it's not as bad as they thought it was going to be. “They're anticipating about $100 million more than they did in January,” she explained. Currie and Bosworth also discussed the interplay this year of budget negotiations with some key county priorities. “Most of the time, there are a handful … of things that rise to the top (in budget talks), and those things are decided by … the leaders in the chambers,” Bosworth said. “I think revenue sharing may be one of those this year, because there are some bills tied to those revenue sharing numbers. “For a recap, the House passed out statutory revenue sharing for counties with a $19.5 million increase (for FY27). The Senate, on the other hand, passed out flat revenue sharing for us, so the same amount as last year, but they tied it to our Revenue Sharing Trust Fund bills [https://micounties.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Issue-Brief-RSTF-1.pdf]. And those bills passed out of the Senate a few weeks ago, unanimously.” Also addressed in this episode: A House hearing on a housing package that would bring numerous concerns for county authority and resources. “This is one we don't look to as, we're not too friendly towards this one,” Currie said. “I think first you need to put down that letter opener when you talk about this, as it's not too friendly, it's a little intimidating,” Bosworth replied. A property tax proposal with potentially ominous financial consequences for counties. See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606 Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org

Podcast 83 Special Episode on American Fidelity Services to Counties May 12, 2026

In a special episode of Podcast 83 [https://youtu.be/d6VJZUtWz7A], Scott Adkins of American Fidelity talks with host Stephan Currie about how counties can use information to win the contest to attract and retain quality employees. “American Fidelity … provides employer cost-saving solutions and supplemental insurance business benefits to industries,” Adkins said. “But we're more than just an insurance company, Steve. Our goal is to empower employers to make benefit decisions that help both their organization and their employees. “We help extend their HR department's capacity,” Adkins continued. “We educate, enroll and support the development of competitive insurance packages, all while facilitating administrative efficiency and fostering positive employee experiences. We deliver year-round support, which helps employers overcome benefit administration and budget challenges and offer a different perspective than any of the other insurance companies you may deal with. We like to say we're a different opinion.” “So, let's talk a little bit about supplemental insurance. You know, why should counties be thinking about supplemental insurance?” Currie asked. “When you just talked about county budgets are tight, it seems contradictory.” “Local government employees often face things like lower wage growth compared to the private sector, high exposure to frontline work risks like public safety, public works, health care roles, and then also significant out of pocket medical expenses,” Adkins replied. “So, supplemental benefits can help fill the financial gaps created by major medical plans that they have, and these benefits help protect employees from sudden financial expenses, which can indirectly benefit the county.” See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606 Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org

Podcast 83 Legislative Update May 5, 2026

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Deena Bosworth of MAC Topics: Fresh off their first live taping at the 2026 Legislative Conference, MAC’s Podcast 83 team reconvened in their regular Zoom “studio” to discuss increasingly bright prospects for counties in the State Capitol. “Budgets are getting done earlier than we've ever expected or would have thought so far out of the chambers, and a huge, huge win coming out of the Senate. Deena, why don't you tell us about it,” said host Stephan Currie. “Do I get to dance a little jig while I do it?” MAC’s Deena Bosworth retorted. “So, the Senate went long (in session) and kicked out their omnibus budget along partisan lines, which we expected,” Bosworth continued. “But the best news is our Revenue Sharing Trust Fund bills passed out of the Senate unanimously. And I mean, that's even better than how it came out of the House last term, which was four no votes out of 110, so I almost consider that unanimous. But it was a fantastic result. Just delighted to see it. It's been our number one priority, our number one policy priority for many years running. “And it looks like … It might finally be soup.” Also in the episode, Currie and Bosworth reviewed: * The first round of testimony on House Republican plans for property tax changes * Prospects for statutory revenue sharing increases for fiscal 2027 * Possible state responses to the crisis with dams and other water infrastructure in Michigan * Legislation aimed at boosting housing affordability by restricting local control on development rules See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606 Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org

Podcast 83 LIVE Episode April 30, 2026

Host: Stephan Currie Guests: Deena Bosworth and Jimmy Johnson of MAC Topics: MAC’s Podcast 83 made a bit of history this week, taping a new episode before a live audience at the 2026 Legislative Conference in Lansing on April 28. Host Stephan Currie and panelists Deena Bosworth and Jimmy Johnson were introduced by MAC President Antoinette Wallace before they dove into a sweeping review of a legislative session now engrossed in budget work. “The House, just last week, recommended a $19.5 million increase for county statutory revenue sharing, which is great,” Bosworth shared with a pleased audience. “The Senate, on the other hand, is taking a very different approach,” she continued. “What they're doing is saying another year of flat statutory revenue sharing for counties, but they are going to pass out the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund policy bills. So (we are) excited about that since it’s been our no. 1 policy priority and budget priority for many sessions running now! “We saw activity in the Senate Appropriations Committee on those bills last week, and I'm happy to say it was a unanimous vote, both parties were unanimous to get it out of committee. I anticipate those bills to be up (in the full Senate later in the week of April 27) and be passed over to the house. (The legislation) passed out of the House overwhelmingly last session. So, theoretically, we should be in good shape, but you never know. … “And the importance for that is this that ties our statutory revenue sharing to the revenue that the state takes in via the state sales tax. So, if the state sales tax goes up, our revenue sharing goes up, because we've seen, far too often, our revenue sharing cut at the last minute in that conference committee and diverted to other priorities. And it's not anything that you guys can rely on for growth. This will protect those funds in a trust fund, and then it can only be expended for that purpose.” Currie pivoted the conversation to an even more vital source of county funding ― property taxes: “There have been a couple property tax packages introduced. The governor introduced one, which was a property tax break for seniors. The House has a property tax package now that does a whole bunch of different things. So why don't you talk a little bit about the property tax packages out there?” “The governor had recommended in her budget a property tax cut for seniors that would amount to, you know, maybe about $300 per year for seniors, which is great,” Bosworth replied. “But it is based on eligibility. The House, on the other hand, just a couple of weeks ago, dropped a larger package of property tax reform bills, and Speaker (Matt Hall) has been very vocal about his intent to tackle property taxes … In his package, he primarily focuses on the state portion of property taxes, so that 6 mill State Education Tax that everyone pays on your property tax bill, he's talking about eliminating it. He's talking about eliminating the state portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. … And then he's talking about eliminating all Personal Property Tax on equipment. That is going to be a chunk of change for everyone in this room, for your county budgets.” See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606 Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org

Podcast 83 Legislative Update April 21, 2026

Host: Stephan Currie Guests: Deena Bosworth and Samantha Gibson of MAC Topics: With the Legislature back from spring break, attention in Lansing has turned to budgets, reports MAC’s Podcast 83 in a new episode. “We're starting to see some movement on budgets, in a significantly earlier time frame, I would say, than last year,” said host Stephan Currie, “which, fingers crossed, is a good sign to getting a budget agreement done maybe earlier than last year (when the budget work extended into October).” “Steve, I love your optimism,” replied Deena Bosworth, MAC’s governmental affairs director. “They're both starting to move budgets for fiscal 2027 already in April, but that's prior to the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (on May 15),” she continued. “So, do they know how much money they have? I don't think that they do. … “But for us, it's an increase in statutory revenue sharing (of $19.8 million). It's an increase in the Public Safety Trust Fund dollars (of $2.5 million), which we're very happy to see … in a year where we were expecting flat or perhaps even cuts. We're happy to see that they're prioritizing local governments in the House. “But I'm not quite sure how long that's going to last. They still have to go through the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, and they've got to negotiate with the Senate,” Bosworth explained. “On the Senate side, I am anticipating a flat revenue sharing recommendation … But what I have been told and assured is that they're going to vote on our Revenue Sharing Trust Fund bills, Senate Bills 559-561. “And what those bills do is tie our statutory revenue sharing to a percentage of the state sales tax. If the state sales tax goes up, for example this year, we expect it to go up by 10 percent, and our revenue sharing will go up by 10 percent,” she said. See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606 Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org