Wayne County staff present resolution to collect Highland Park taxes after city treasurer lacked bond

Wayne County treasury staff told a county commission committee that the city of Highland Park has not provided a treasurer bond as required by state law, and the county is seeking authority to add an administrative fee, late penalty and interest to taxes it collects on Highland Park’s behalf.

Jeanviera Adams, chief deputy treasurer, said the county’s bonding agent was unable to provide a bond for the Highland Park treasurer and that "we have not collected any tax disbursements from Highland Park for the 2025 tax year to date." She told commissioners the county is bringing a resolution under MCL 211.51 that, if adopted, would allow Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree to administer collections and to add those fees; excess fees would be applied to the county’s collection costs.

Commissioners pressed staff about whether a bond had ever been in place and who is responsible for ensuring bonding compliance. Adams said the statutory requirement is that a local treasurer be bonded before taking office and that the county had been in contact with bonding companies since at least April to attempt to obtain a bond on Highland Park’s behalf. Adams said she could not confirm whether the elected Highland Park treasurer remained on payroll or whether the city had made disbursements.

Commissioner Martha G. Scott asked whether the person was still being paid by Highland Park; Adams said she did not have access to the city’s payroll records. Commissioner Clemente asked staff to identify the statutory deadline for bonding; Adams cited MCL 41.77 (bonding required prior to taking office) and said she would seek records to determine whether a bond existed last year and whether it carried forward.

Multiple commissioners asked that county counsel and staff prepare written analyses. The committee requested a memo identifying the bonding status of treasurers for municipalities within Wayne County and asked staff to invite Highland Park’s mayor and other city officials to a future committee meeting to explain the situation.

No committee vote on final adoption of the county resolution was recorded in the transcript. Staff said the resolution would govern collections “until such time as the city is able to appoint or elect a treasurer who is able to be bonded,” and commissioners asked for follow-up from both corporation counsel and county counsel.

Ending: The committee directed staff and counsel to prepare written analyses and to seek outreach with Highland Park officials; a future committee meeting was requested to review the status of the city’s treasurer and any bond documentation.