PREVNEXTSUBMITMenuResourcesGlossaryNotesClear and return to MenuSearch ResultsFilterSlide TextNotesSearch in:Check to includeSearch...TermsDefinitiondefinitionresourcessearchpauseplayreplaysubmitnextpreviousvolume<html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Welcome Hi, I’m Kelly, your host for MAC 101. Click on Begin Navigational Tour to learn how to use the tools in our online learning environment. Once you’re familiar with the tools, you may click on Proceed to Course to begin. Please take a moment to view Kami's opening remarks.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Agenda Welcome to MAC 101. This is where we'll begin our course. Each of these topics will provide you with everything you need to know about your membership with the Michigan Association of Counties. Feel free to browse these agenda items in any order you choose. Remember, you can find helpful links and documents under resources and a list of terms you'll want to know in the glossary. Simply click on a topic to proceed.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>About MAC The Michigan Association of Counties was founded on February 1, 1898, and is the only statewide organization dedicated to the representation of all county commissioners in Michigan. --- MAC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization which advances education, communication, and cooperation among Michigan’s county government officials. MAC is the counties’ voice at the State Capitol, providing legislative support on key issues affecting counties. --- </textformat><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC’s decision-making body is its Board of Directors, currently comprised of 17 elected county commissioners. The Board acts on the recommendations of 5 committees which are run by county commissioners from all over our great state. </textformat><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'></textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC Committees MAC’s 5 committees include: Economic Development and Taxation Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Human Services Judiciary and Public Safety And Transportation </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC Committees MAC committee members work hard on legislative issues relevant to Michigan counties. Each committee creates a platform from which they take their positions on legislation.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Benefits of MAC Membership - Overview Let's explore some of the benefits to your membership in MAC. Click on each topic to learn a little more. Educational Opportunities Among the educational opportunities at MAC are two annual conferences where members are able to learn and network with other members and service providers. MAC also offers a variety of workshops through our partnership with the Michigan State University Extension. Another educational benefit to members is access to our interactive, online learning courses on MAC’s website (micounties.org). Member Services MAC serves its members by providing current information to keep them connected and up-to-date. MAC is committed to informing and educating our members routinely and uses a variety of methods. These include publications, social networking and the MAC Blog. Our weekly electronic publication called the Legislative Update is emailed to our members each Monday to provide an overview of the legislative activity from the week. Another valuable publication is our monthly eNewsletter called Michigan Counties, which highlights news from around the state as well as articles of interest from various experts in areas helpful to local government. Archive issues of these publications are available to members through our website. Also on the website is our blog, where you can find a variety of topics of interest to counties in Michigan. Be sure to connect with MAC on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay informed. These are just a few of the ways MAC reaches out to our members across the state to keep them in touch with current matters in Michigan and at the state Capitol. Lobbying for Counties MAC’s legislative team offers representation for county interests at the state and federal level. Participation in the MAC Service Corporation MAC provides a variety of cost saving programs and services for members through the MAC Service Corporation. County entities and agencies within member counties are also eligible to benefit from these programs. Workers’ Compensation Fund The Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund (MCWCF) is a non-profit that is owned by its members. The MCWCF is managed by an eleven member board that is made up of county commissioners whose counties participate in the Fund. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Legislative Advocacy Members of MAC are served by an exceptional legislative staff committed to promoting county interest with the state and federal legislature. These individuals work closely with the MAC board of directors and the MAC committees to ensure that member counties best interests are protected at the Capitol. The Legislative staff works diligently to communicate to commissioners the on goings at the capitol to enable them to be well informed at all times. --- Let's see what some of our current issues are. Click on the Information markers for a quick look. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MACSC The Michigan Association of Counties Service Corporation (MACSC) was established in 1986 to provide valuable programs and services to counties, allowing them to save money and strengthen their employee benefit packages. Participation in these programs also provides the association a tool to contain annual membership dues. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MACSC Programs and Services MAC Service Corporation offers many programs to MAC member counties including: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Blue Care Network COBRA Administration Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund Nationwide Retirement Solutions - 457 Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plans Abilita Telecommunication consulting Lincoln Financial - life and disability insurance Grant Services Program AAA of Michigan American Fidelity Assurance Company- Supplementary Insurance US Communities And CoPro+</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MACSC Eligible Entities Entities that are eligible to participate in the programs and services provided by MAC Service Corporation include: Counties Community Mental Health Departments Councils on Aging Housing Commissions Medical Care Facilities Michigan WORKS! County Public Health Departments Public Transits Road Commissions and more.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MCWCF (MI Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund) Since 1979, the MI Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund has provided participants with millions in dividends returned. In 2012, members received a total of $2.75 million back in premium dividend returns. Despite the down economy, 2012 also marked the 12th consecutive year of increased premium dividend returns from the previous year. The plan provides a broad range of risk management at a tremendous savings. CMI, A York Risk Services Company, Inc., the Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund third party administrator, has the reputation and strength to administer such a plan, making this program a must for a Michigan county of any size. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MCWCF - Benefits The fund is overseen by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, whom are also county commissioners, and is a non-profit that is owned by its members. The board is committed to fundamental and long-term financial principles. All of the Board Trustees’ counties participate in the Fund. Among the benefits are: </textformat><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[0, 48, 96]' leftmargin='14' indent='-14'>·<tab></tab>On average a 35% of premium returned in dividends ·<tab></tab>Stable and predictable pricing ·<tab></tab>96 days of loss control services ·<tab></tab>Homogeneous self-insured pool </textformat><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'> The MI Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund is one of the most successful self-insured programs in Michigan with nearly 70 Michigan county entities participating. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC Experience Come and see how MAC has helped our members in counties throughout Michigan.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC Experience #1 The organization serves as a coalition to fight for counties on legislative issues at the capitol. We have provided assistance to counties that have faced legal situations with their court systems and judges. From time to time countywide elected officials do not see eye to eye with their funding source, the county commission. This happens most often in the court. Occasionally, these disputes can escalate to discussion of lawsuits against the commission. County department heads suing the county commission for funding makes everyone involved a loser. Even if the county board wins, it is responsible as the funding source to pay the costs of the other side! MAC was able to step in after receiving a call from one exasperated county board looking for help. A mutually agreeable third party was brought in by MAC, to fairly negotiate a deal that worked for both sides. MAC keeps ties with retired county administrators, commissioners, and educators who are respected statewide for being fair and can call on them when needed to help in an informal way. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC Experience #2 The Legislative team goes to bat to preserve and increase funding to county government from the state and federal level. Examples are revenue sharing and Payment in Lieu of Taxes. Times are tough in Michigan. MAC understands that increasing funding from the state is important, and so is preservation of the funding we have. Last year MAC worked with the legislature to increase funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) on state-owned land by $9.7 million over the next few years, in addition to providing for inflationary increases every year following. Protecting what is owed is also very important. County revenue sharing is subject to legislative appropriation, and has been raided by the legislature in the past (as has revenue sharing for cities and townships). MAC has been successful in each of the last two years getting more and more county revenue sharing back and closing the gap toward full funding. MAC has also been successful protecting county revenue sharing from arbitrary requirements designed to make local governments “earn” their money all over again. MAC has protected 80% of county revenue sharing from such requirements, and softened the rules to the extent that every county should easily qualify for the 20% subject to the program requirements. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC Experience #3 MAC fights for local control and local decision-making. In 2012, the state attempted to merge substance abuse coordinating agencies (with boards appointed by the county commission), into mental health PIHPs (which are large hub agencies that control Medicaid funding to local mental health boards). MAC fought to create a new substance abuse board inside the controlling entity that would preserve local county board control over substance abuse, since much of the funding comes from the local level. MAC recognizes that commissioners have an obligation to protect county taxpayers, and the only way they can accomplish this effectively is to retain control at the local level. As a result of the MAC solution to the merger, county boards retain control over their local dollars, oversight over substance abuse in the region, and consumers should benefit from any efficiencies created. Finally, PIHP governance itself is now being redone to allow locals to form a structure that allows more equity among the counties and mental health agencies it serves.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC PAC In this era of legislative term limits, the MAC Board established a Political Action Committee or PAC, to assist our staff with forming meaningful relationships with legislators before term limits turn them out. MAC-PAC only supports incumbent state legislators who have a record of being a friend to counties. Donations are encouraged. Your contribution strengthens and amplifies our county voice.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Closing Remarks Please take a moment to see closing remarks from our Communications Coordinator, Stephanie Ericson. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>For More Information For more information about the benefits of MAC membership be sure to contact us directly at (517) 372-5374 or (800) 258-1152 Or visit MAC’s website MICounties.org </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Contributions and Credits This concludes our short course on MAC 101. Don't forget to download the resources provided on the resources link in the upper right corner of this window. If you are using an iPad or other mobile device, you'll find resources in the next slide. The Michigan Association of Counties would like to thank our subject matter experts who contributed the content for this course. We hope you enjoyed your elearning experience with MAC. If you have any questions about our Education and Training Program or would like to learn more, please visit our website MICounties.org. Thank you! </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'></textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Welcome to our Navigational Tour. I'm Renee, elearning developer for MAC. Our virtual learning environment has been designed to provide you a meaningful structure while still allowing you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Let me show you around!</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>You'll find our learning environment very easy to use. The side-bar contains a course menu, glossary of terms and notes. A link for course resources appears at the top right corner and slide navigation is generally controlled via the previous and next button along the bottom. Let's take a closer look.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>On the menu tab you'll find the sections of the course. If you find you'd like to revisit a section you may easily do so, simply by clicking on the topic in the menu. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The Glossary of Terms is also available in the side bar. During your course, simply click on the Glossary tab to view terms and definitions relevant to the topic. Select the word or phrase in the glossary and the definition will appear below.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Are you the type of learner who likes to read along while the speaker is narrating? If so, simply click on the notes tab to view the script and you may follow along with the course host as they narrate. You'll also find a copy of the script and glossary of terms available in the Resources section of each course for printing.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The Resources link is located in the top right corner. Files and links to relevant resources can be found here, ready for downloading. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>You may control the volume, replay the audio content, and advance through the course using the controls at the bottom of the screen. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>You'll find interactive sections in each of our courses. Simply follow the directions given on the screen then click on the submit button to submit your answer.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>This concludes the Navigational Tour of our elearning environment. Be sure to let us know if you have any difficulty. We're happy to help. You may click Next to return to your course.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) was formed in 1898 to advocate for the interests of Michigan's county governments. Over the past 100 years, MAC has evolved into a highly respected organization that offers the full spectrum of association services that distribute important public information to its members.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC’s annual conference location varies from year to year, but is held in September.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC’s Ask the Expert program provides an opportunity for our members to have direct access to the best and brightest minds in the state in a variety of discipline areas. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC’s Education and Training Program provides practical, technical, legal, and legislative expertise on a wide range of topics fundamental to county operations.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MAC’s Legislative Conference is held in Lansing annually in March/April.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE keeps our members informed on what’s happening at the Capitol each week, where MAC is on every issue and how they can be involved. </textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>MICHIGAN COUNTIES, MAC’s monthly e-newsletter covers issues that are happening in counties across Michigan and includes monthly letters from our President along with peer written articles.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The Michigan Association of Counties Service Corporation (MACSC) was established in 1986 to provide services to MAC members through the development and maintenance of a variety of programs and services.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The MAC SERVICE CORPORATION BI-MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER highlights the various programs and services the MACSC offers to its members as well as sharing success stories.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>The Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund was formed in 1979 to provide workers’ compensation insurance to our members while maintaining a safe, secure work environment, in addition to saving the county money. </textformat></html>