The 7 Critical Battles: Michigan Association Of Counties’ 2026 Legislative Agenda And New Leadership Under Antoinette Wallace

The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), the unified voice for Michigan’s 83 county governments, is currently navigating a complex and high-stakes legislative landscape as of December 2025. The organization's focus has sharply shifted to securing critical funding, enhancing local control over essential services like mental health, and stabilizing county finances following significant budgetary maneuvers in the state legislature. This period marks a pivotal transition, led by a new President dedicated to ensuring that when counties succeed, the entire state of Michigan succeeds. The MAC’s advocacy is more crucial than ever, as counties grapple with issues ranging from maintaining public safety through adequate prosecutor funding to managing massive cuts to state work project funds. Understanding the MAC's leadership and its 2026 policy platform is essential for anyone interested in the future of local government and service delivery across the Great Lakes State.

The New Guard: MAC Leadership and Biographical Profiles (2025-2026)

The effectiveness of the Michigan Association of Counties hinges on the experience and vision of its leadership team, which sets the strategic direction for advocacy in Lansing and Washington D.C. The 2025-2026 term features a significant change at the presidential level, bringing fresh perspectives from Macomb County.

Antoinette Wallace: 117th MAC President

• Current Role: President, Michigan Association of Counties (Sworn in October 1, 2025).
• Primary Position: Macomb County Commissioner, representing District 8.
• Represented Area: District 8 encompasses a significant portion of Clinton Township and the City of Mount Clemens.
• Hometown/Residence: Resides in Mount Clemens with her husband, Maurice.
• Background: Born in Detroit and raised in Woodhaven.
• Inaugural Theme: Her inaugural remarks at the 2025 Michigan Counties Annual Conference emphasized the theme: "When counties succeed, Michigan succeeds."

Stephan W. Currie: Executive Director and CEO

• Role: Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Association of Counties.
• Tenure: Became the seventh executive director of MAC since 1968 in January 2017.
• Education: Graduated from Hope College with a degree in business.
• Key Initiatives: Has led the organization through significant legislative periods and has been involved in new programs, including assisting Wayne County with modernizing its procurement efforts.
• State Involvement: Serves as a member of the Horizon Council and has been appointed by the Governor to the New Statewide Housing Partnership Board.

The MAC Board of Directors also includes key figures such as Vice President Bryan Kolk, Second Vice President William Miller, and Immediate Past President Melissa Daub, all of whom contribute to the organization's policy direction and statewide representation.

The 7 Critical Battles: MAC’s 2026 Legislative Priorities and Budgetary Fights

The MAC’s legislative platform for the 2025-2026 session is focused on fiscal stability, local autonomy, and ensuring state mandates are fully funded. The following represent the most pressing issues MAC is actively addressing in the final days of 2025 and into the 2026 legislative year.

1. The Fight for Stable County Revenue Sharing

Revenue sharing remains the single most important financial issue for Michigan’s 83 counties. The MAC's core mission is to advocate for a stable, predictable, and fair distribution of state sales tax revenue, as originally intended. In late 2025, MAC was urging county leaders to speak out against a proposed FY 2026 budget plan adopted by the Michigan House that threatened to cut county revenue sharing.

While the initial FY 2026 budget has continued county revenue sharing at the FY 2025 levels, the ongoing threat of cuts and the debate over the distribution formula remain a top-tier priority. The MAC continues to push for a mechanism that shares in the state’s economic growth, similar to the original design of the revenue sharing concept.

2. Resolution of Prosecutor Funding Issues

A major win for county officials was the resolution of a lingering prosecutor funding issue in the FY 2026 budget. This legislative fix was crucial for 15 eligible counties that were shorted in their funding during the previous fiscal year (FY 2025). The MAC’s consistent advocacy, including a special podcast dedicated to prosecutor funding in August 2025, highlighted the necessity of stable funding for public safety and the local justice system.

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3. Combating Massive Work Project Funding Cuts

A significant financial blow to local projects occurred in late 2025 when the House Appropriations Committee cut approximately $645 million in fiscal 2025 work project funding. This action, utilizing a provision within the state budget for the first time, has immediate and long-term implications for county infrastructure, development projects, and local services across Michigan. The MAC is actively working to mitigate the impact of these cuts and restore funding for vital county-level initiatives.

4. Expanding Local Control over Mental Health Services

Mental health is a critical service delivered at the county level, and the MAC has consistently advocated for policies that grant counties greater local control and flexibility in managing these services. This includes ensuring that state mandates related to mental health parity and addiction equity are fully supported and that counties have the necessary resources to address the ongoing mental health crisis effectively. The MAC's efforts aim to preserve local options and secure new state grant funds for public safety and other essential county services.

5. Economic Development and Growth Policies

The Michigan Legislature, in the waning days of 2025, placed a strong focus on economic development policies. The MAC’s role is to ensure that these statewide policies support, rather than hinder, local economic growth initiatives. This involves advocating for partnerships with organizations like the Michigan Economic Developers Association (MEDA) and ensuring county governments have the tools—such as streamlined procurement processes—to attract investment and drive positive economic growth.

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6. Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

A key piece of ongoing legislation is the expansion of the disabled veterans property tax exemption. While broadly supported, the MAC’s advocacy focuses on the fiscal impact to local governments. When the state expands tax exemptions, it often results in a reduction of the local tax base, forcing counties to either cut services or raise taxes on remaining residents. The MAC argues that any state-mandated exemption must be fully reimbursed to the counties to prevent an unfunded mandate on local taxpayers.

7. Federal Policy and National Advocacy

Beyond Lansing, the MAC works closely with the National Association of Counties (NACo) to represent Michigan’s interests at the federal level. Key federal policy issues include securing funding for infrastructure, managing the impact of federal legislation like the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBBBA) on social programs, and ensuring federal support is maintained across major county-administered programs. The MAC is a key participant in the annual NACo Legislative Conference, scheduled for February 2026, to focus on these federal policy issues.

Topical Authority and Future Outlook for Michigan Counties

The Michigan Association of Counties stands as the primary legislative and educational resource for county elected officials and staff across the state. Its influence extends to every level of service delivery, from local road commissions and public health departments to the county court systems. By providing a unified voice for all 83 counties, the MAC ensures that the unique needs of both rural and metropolitan areas—such as Macomb County, Wayne County, and Ingham County—are heard in the state Capitol. With the new leadership of President Antoinette Wallace and the continued stability provided by Executive Director Stephan W. Currie, the MAC is poised to tackle the complex FY 2026 budget and legislative session. The focus on preserving vital revenue sharing, securing public safety funding, and fighting for local control over essential services like mental health demonstrates the organization's commitment to the fiscal health and service integrity of local government. The outcomes of these legislative battles will directly determine the quality of life for millions of Michigan residents in the coming years.

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