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 ...

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Tony Raffa of Savi Topics: With major changes coming to federal student loan programs on July 1, this week’s Podcast 83 episode features a MAC partner that aids counties and their employees in navigating loan repayment rules. Savi is now operating in nine Michigan counties to aid county employees, or even all of a county’s residents, navigate the dizzying rules of loan repayments “We are a public benefits social impact company, really founded by a lot of student lo...

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Deena Bosworth of MAC Topics: The Michigan Legislature is another week closer to a statutory deadline for approving a fiscal 2027 budget and it’s not clear what is going on, reported MAC’s Podcast 83 team in a new episode. “What is the latest on the budget?” asked host Stephan Currie. “What we're hearing is that they worked really hard all weekend to come up with agreements on big items and funding,” replied Deena Bosworth. “Now, how far into the weeds do they get?...

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Deena Bosworth of MAC Topics: The state’s fiscal 2027 budget faces a July 1 deadline, but it’s not clear what that actually means for what will be in the document, say MAC’s Podcast 83 team members in a new episode. “First and foremost, the budget, we've got an artificial deadline. I call it an artificial deadline. It is an actual statutory deadline of July 1, but there's really nothing that puts any teeth in it if you (miss it),” said host Stephan Currie to open t...

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Deena Bosworth of MAC Topics: In a brief episode this week, MAC’s Podcast 83 team reviewed the state of play in Lansing on a variety of county issues, including a bid for statewide septic code, issues with a new marijuana wholesale tax and distribution of dollars used for substance abuse prevention. Host Stephan Currie, who was traveling to the Upper Peninsula to visit several member counties, asked Deena Bosworth about a troubling report on marijuana taxes. “There...

Host: Stephan Currie Guest: Amy Dolinky of MAC Topics: The release of a long-awaited state list on unallowed spending items and the expansion of MAC’s consulting services for opioid settlements highlight comments from MAC’s opioid services leader in a special Podcast 83 episode. “We have the new document that was released by the (Attorney General’s Office) which is really what we would call an ‘unallowable use’ list. So, items or services that are not considered opioid remediation and really ...

Massive changes to Michigan’s property tax system continue to create concern among MAC’s policy advocates in a new Podcast 83 episode. “Deena, we are coming off of a week last week where we had a lot of session days, some committee meetings, but some pretty significant legislation passed that we've been following and tracking and have some concerns about. The property tax legislation passed last week. Let's talk a little bit about that, what passed and where things are at,” said host Stephan ...

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,...

In a special episode of Podcast 83, 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 empl...

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 g...