Finance

Oversight and governance of financial affairs is among the most important of the responsibilities of municipal elected officials. Inadequate oversight can lead to abuses such as embezzlement, misuse of and/or misappropriation of funds and general loss of esteem for the municipality and its officials. Excessive control or oversight can render your city or village ineffective and incapable of delivering important services. This section provides information on the very complex and pervasive subject of municipal finance. However, it is essential that you turn to the local resources at your disposal. Your manager, finance officer, assessor, treasurer, accountant, municipal attorney and independent auditor will provide information unique to your community.

Finance Reform –  Information/Resources

Municipal Revenues

• Act 51 Information/Resources

• Revenue Sharing Information/Resources

• Special Assessments and User Charges Information/Resources

• Taxation Information/Resources

Budgets/Budgeting – Information/Resources

Municipal Expenditures – Information/Resources

State of Michigan Department of Treasury resources for local governments

Federal government manual for local governments

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Finance Reform

• saveMIcity - After years of working within the existing paradigms, the League is undertaking a major legislative and policy push aimed at reforming municipal finance in Michigan to encourage renewed investment in our communities.

• Municipal Finance Reform: League Campaign Aims to Reset State Policies, The Review, March/April 2017

• Simplified Tax Structure Benefits Local Governments, The Review, March/April 2017

• Revenue Enhancement Establishing a Firm Foundation for Funding Municipalities, The Review, March/April 2016

• League Launches Campaign to Reform Michigan Municipal Finance, The Review, March/April 2016

Municipal Revenues

• Act 51

  • Act 51 Made Simple

  • Act 51 Calculations - 2017

  • Act 51 Sample Resolution

  • Act 51 Frequently Asked Questions

• Revenue Sharing

  • Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP)
    The Department of Treasury provides information on its EVIP site about the processes local unites need to follow to obtain their share of EVIP/revenue sharing funding. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Revenue and Tax Analysis at the Department of Treasury, 517-373-2697.

  • Revenue Sharing Fact Sheet

  • Funding Michigan's Communities - League information page

  • Fixing Municipal Finance, The Review, May/June 2015

  • Ideas for Reforming Statutory State Revenue Sharing, The Review, May/June 2015

  • Local Governments Not Sharing in Recovery, The Review, May/June 2015

  • The Great Revenue Sharing Heist, The Review, March/April 2014

• Special Assessments and User Charges

  • 5 Keys to Settling Water and Sewer Rates, The Review, January/February 2016

  • Bolt v City of Lansing: A Taxing Question for Michigan's Local Governments, The Review, January/February 2015

  • Special Assessments & User Charges, Handbook for Municipal Officials

• Taxation

  • Finance: Authority and Internal Controls - Handbook for Municipal Officials

  • Dark Stores - League information page

Budgets/Budgeting

• Budgeting - Handbook for Municipal Officials

• Adopting the budget – Fact Sheet

• Sample budget ordinances/resolutions

  • East Jordan (HRC), pop. 2,351

  • Lapeer (HRC), pop. 8,841

  • Pinckney (GLV), pop. 2,427

  • Southfield (HRC), pop. 71,739

• Sample ACH policies
  

• Sample fund balance policies

  • Clawson (HRC), pop. 11,825

  • Port Huron (HRC), pop. 30,184

  • Zeeland (HRC), pop. 5,504

• Priority Based Budgeting, The Review, November/December 2016

Municipal Expenditures

• From "Prey" to "Protector": Avoiding Common Fraud Pitfalls, The Review, January/February 2016

• Financing Capital Improvements - Handbook for Municipal Officials

• Financing Improvements 101, The Review, January/February 2015

• Purchasing - Handbook for Municipal Officials

• Sample purchasing policies

• Limits of Municipal Expenditures - Handbook for Municipal Officials

• Municipal Expenditures – Fact Sheet

• Municipal Expenditures, Sue Jeffers, retired League Associate General Counsel

State of Michigan Department of Treasury Resources for Local Governments

• Uniform Accounting Procedures Manual

• Audit Manual

• Uniform Budget Manual

• Uniform Chart of Accounts

• Bi-Monthly Estimated Revenue Sharing Payments for Local Governments

• Fiscal Database allows for downloading of population, taxable value, state equalized value, tax rates, tax revenues, fees and charges, other revenues, debt, all major expenditure categories, and much more for counties, cities, villages, and townships. Data available for years ending between 7/1/2010 and 6/30/2011.

Federal Government Manual for local governments: IRS Public Employers Outreach Guide 2007