The newest episode of MAC’s Podcast 83 delves into the wins for counties out of the Legislature’s mad dash to a fiscal 2027 budget right before the holiday weekend.

“The overall budget, I believe, was less than previous year budget, correct?” asked host Stephan Currie.

“It was pretty much flat, with a $14.1 billion General Fund. That's what we look at. We look at the General Fund, because that's what they have some discretion over,” replied Deena Bosworth, MAC’s chief lobbyist.

“You had some increased pressures because of the One Big Beautiful Bill, financial pressures coming from federal changes. So, to make it out flat, I think is pretty good, plus there is still an option to get the (Revenue Sharing Trust Fund) done by the end of the year; that isn't bad,” Currie said.

In other budget news:

• Public safety funding – “I'm very happy about that one,” Bosworth said. “That's the continuation of the $11.7 million that goes out to counties for public safety revenue sharing grants. Now, it's a line item in the budget, same as last year.
• Prosecutor funding – “What they did this year in the fiscal 27 budget is they added $3 million in addition to what they had appropriated before to make all of those counties that were eligible (for this funding) in 2025 and 2026 whole.”

Also in this week’s episode, two new team members were introduced: Davis Grimm and Maci Main.

Both Grimm and Main are coming to MAC from legislative offices and will work under Bosworth on the association’s advocacy team.

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