MAC Annual Summer Conference to Cover Michigan's Pressing Topics

Topics Such as Health Care Reform, Reducing County Costs to Be Discussed

LANSING, Mich., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) will be hosting their 2010 Annual Summer Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. on August 15-17 to provide a forum for elected officials to meet and discuss Michigan's most important issues.

Among the panel sessions slated throughout the conference are issues that are of great importance to Michigan's local units of government. Many of the topics will suggest ways counties can cut costs and better serve themselves if revenue sharing falls through. With local government facing cuts by the state and reduced property taxes, this conference will discuss ways counties can get creative and remain sustainable.

This year's keynote speakers include:

• John McCullough, Commissioner for Oakland County Water Resources and MAC Service Corporation President
• Jim Ridgway, Vice President of Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
• Lori Phalen, Executive Director for the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
• Carol Stephani, Program Director for Shared Public Services Initiative
• Patricia Lockwood, Deputy Director for Shared Public Services Initiative
• Lynda Pittman, Retirement Outreach Director of Municipal Employee's Retirement System

The following are subjects that participants will have the option of exploring while at the conference: Federal Health Care Reform; Juvenile Justice; Mosquito Control; County Jail Reimbursement Program (CJRP); Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT); The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; Social Media; Reducing County Costs; Michigan Agribusiness; Internet Security; Relationships Between Boards, Elected Officials and Courts; and Sustainable Development.

For more information about the MAC Annual Summer Conference, please contact Kami Smith at [email protected] or by calling 517-372-5374.

The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) founded on February 1, 1898, is the only statewide organization dedicated to the representation of all county commissioners in Michigan. MAC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization which advances education, communication and cooperation among county government officials in the state of Michigan. MAC is the counties' voice at the State Capitol, providing legislative support on key issues affecting counties.

SOURCE Michigan Association of Counties