MAC COVID-19 Update
Whitmer approves virus spending, vetoes variety of other spending items

Gov. Whitmer signed supplemental appropriations this week (Senate Bill 151 and House Bill 4279) to help the state respond to the coronavirus crisis.

The governor approved:
  • $10 million for coronavirus public health emergency state and local preparedness and response activities
  • $15 million for the Coronavirus Response Fund

The governor also vetoed a variety of items that touch on county activities that were in the legislation that cleared the Legislature in early March:

  • $5 million for High Water Infrastructure Repair grants
  • $15 million for Going Pro employer-based training grants
  • $1 million for county fairs, shows and expositions
  • $500,000 for court-appointed special advocates
  • $3.2 million for behavioral health system redesign
  • $11.3 million to replace the MiSACWIS (child welfare IT system)
  • $16 million to support Pure Michigan
  • $37 million for 85 Michigan enhancement grants
  • $2 million for the Muskegon Federally Qualified Health Center
  • $3 million for scrap tire grants – vetoed
  • $600,000 for the Electronic Recording Commission
  • $164,000 for Ionia County for ice/flooding disaster aid

Example offered on local health orders for essential businesses

After consulting with public health and business leaders, MAC is recommending that any county looking to adopt temperature and other testing directives for essential businesses follow the model adopted by Washtenaw County.



Advice from Calhoun County

Administrator Kelli Scott told MAC that she has included Reps. Jim Haadsma and Matt Hall and Sen. John Bizon in their daily EOC calls and meetings to give the legislator a window into frontline activities against the virus. They also have instituted a weekly session with countywide elected officials and legislators to enhance communication and the flow of information. MAC suggests other counties should follow suit and create such forums to involve state leaders to show why, now more than ever, #MICountyMatters.

MAC adds ‘heat map’ to website for county-by-county data

Working with our partners at the data firm Munetrix, MAC has installed an interactive “heat map” of the state showing COVID-19 data by county. In addition to the number of cases and deaths, the map will show cases per 100,000 residents.

Munetrix has offered to share the embed code for this map with our county members for their websites. If you wish to receive the code, send the request to melot@micounties.org.

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