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Podcast 83 Legislative Update January 21, 2026
Host: Stephan Currie
Guests: Deena Bosworth, Samantha Gibson and Jimmy Johnson of MAC
Topics: Comments by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) about his 2026 priorities were a focus of this week’s episode of Podcast 83.
“The biggest one that affects our members the most is Speaker Hall is talking about property tax reform,” said Deena Bosworth.
“We don't know what this looks like. We don't know if he's talking about elimination of property taxes with a replacement of some kind of mechanism. We don't know if he's talking about getting rid of just a certain number of mills, like the state education tax, and then replacing it with something else. …
“You've got certain groups out there who are advocating for the elimination of property taxes. You've got other states that are looking at significant property tax reform. So, it isn't a new conversation, but the fact that he's making it a priority, and one of his priorities is significant. …
“The case that we (at MAC) will be making out there when they're talking about this reform is, no. 1, Michigan's property tax system is extremely restrictive. We are capped by increases of 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. We are required to do Headlee rollbacks, unless you have to go to the voters and get an override on it. …
“So whatever replacement mechanism is out there has to be able to be locally controlled, locally managed and provide enough money to actually supplement whatever is going to be taken away from property tax revenue.”
Other topics discussed in the episode include:
· Initial projections for state General Fund revenue for the fiscal 2027 budget point to a “flat” budget compared to the current FY26 one: “For the most part, what that means is likely a flat budget, not a whole lot of extra spending or extra legislative-directed spending,” Bosworth said.
· The legal wrangling over “work project” funding involving House leadership, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Senate appropriators: “In early December, the House Appropriations Committee cut about $645 million in work project funding,” said Samantha Gibson. “At the request of Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony, Nessel weighed in, deeming it unconstitutional.
“The House Republicans appealed that opinion by the attorney general. It's in the Court of Claims right now,” Gibson continued. “Last Friday morning was the first day of oral arguments in the case, and the judge in the Court of Claims issued a preliminary injunction. So, for now, the portion of funds (not already encumbered), which seems to be around 30 percent of that $645 million, is blocked.”
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
View all episodes
By DerekHost: Stephan Currie
Guests: Deena Bosworth, Samantha Gibson and Jimmy Johnson of MAC
Topics: Comments by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) about his 2026 priorities were a focus of this week’s episode of Podcast 83.
“The biggest one that affects our members the most is Speaker Hall is talking about property tax reform,” said Deena Bosworth.
“We don't know what this looks like. We don't know if he's talking about elimination of property taxes with a replacement of some kind of mechanism. We don't know if he's talking about getting rid of just a certain number of mills, like the state education tax, and then replacing it with something else. …
“You've got certain groups out there who are advocating for the elimination of property taxes. You've got other states that are looking at significant property tax reform. So, it isn't a new conversation, but the fact that he's making it a priority, and one of his priorities is significant. …
“The case that we (at MAC) will be making out there when they're talking about this reform is, no. 1, Michigan's property tax system is extremely restrictive. We are capped by increases of 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. We are required to do Headlee rollbacks, unless you have to go to the voters and get an override on it. …
“So whatever replacement mechanism is out there has to be able to be locally controlled, locally managed and provide enough money to actually supplement whatever is going to be taken away from property tax revenue.”
Other topics discussed in the episode include:
· Initial projections for state General Fund revenue for the fiscal 2027 budget point to a “flat” budget compared to the current FY26 one: “For the most part, what that means is likely a flat budget, not a whole lot of extra spending or extra legislative-directed spending,” Bosworth said.
· The legal wrangling over “work project” funding involving House leadership, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Senate appropriators: “In early December, the House Appropriations Committee cut about $645 million in work project funding,” said Samantha Gibson. “At the request of Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony, Nessel weighed in, deeming it unconstitutional.
“The House Republicans appealed that opinion by the attorney general. It's in the Court of Claims right now,” Gibson continued. “Last Friday morning was the first day of oral arguments in the case, and the judge in the Court of Claims issued a preliminary injunction. So, for now, the portion of funds (not already encumbered), which seems to be around 30 percent of that $645 million, is blocked.”
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