Shiawassee County board adopts 2026 valuation, OKs $10.28M in payments and puts 911 surcharge increase to voters

At its April 15 meeting the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of financial, personnel and administrative actions, including payment of invoices, adoption of the county'wide equalized valuation for 2026, farmland preservation agreements, personnel replacements and a ballot question to raise the county'wide 911 telephone surcharge cap.

The board approved invoices, wire transfers, ACH and EFTs and payroll batches totaling $10,277,347.58 and authorized warrants to be drawn from the Treasury. That motion passed on a roll-call vote of 6 yeas (Holzhausen, Johnson, Garber, Howard, Haley, Brodeur) and 1 nay (Shepard).

The Board also adopted the 2026 Total County Equalized Value of $4,270,993,389 and authorized filing the L-4024 and L-4037 forms; the record lists a Tentative Taxable Value of $2,806,714,815. The equalized value by class recorded in the resolution is: Agricultural $877,190,209; Commercial $296,807,340; Industrial $65,007,744; Residential $2,690,981,835; Timber-Cutover 0; Developmental 0. The Board approved the accompanying fee changes for County Equalization non-statutory services to local units; both motions were carried with a 6-1 roll-call vote (Commissioner Shepard recorded as the lone nay on the motions noted).

The board approved two PA 116 farmland applications: Jacob Dase (Woodhull Township, Parcel #013-20-100-00) and Robert BeGole (Antrim Township, Parcels #015-21-400-001; 015-21-300-001-02; 015-21-300-001-03). Both PA 116 motions passed unanimously.

Personnel and administrative approvals included appointment of Shirley Smith to the Planning Commission and Carole Stevens to the Jury Board, authorization to fill a Circuit Court Deputy Clerk at grade 3, approval of a collective bargaining agreement covering the 35th, 66th and Probate Courts with the TPOAM Association, and approval of replacement hires for an assistant prosecutor and two correctional deputies (the latter not to exceed Step 3). The board also authorized use of up to $50,000 from the Solid Waste Fund for two household hazardous waste collections in 2026 and directed the Health Director to hire a summer public health intern at $18 per hour not to exceed the grant funding.

The board approved Resolution #26-04-08 to submit to county voters on Aug. 4, 2026 a proposal to increase the assessed charge for 911 emergency telephone and dispatch services from the current cap of no more than $2.65 per month to a rate not to exceed $3.00 per month. The resolution cites MCL 484.1401b(1) and states revenues would be used exclusively to fund operation and maintenance of the county 911 center. That motion carried by roll call, 6 yeas and 1 nay (Shepard).

Chairman Gregory Brodeur provided a brief Land Bank update and noted county participation in several local and regional efforts. County Administrator Dr. Boggs reported on an upcoming audit presentation, Community Development Office service discussions, a forthcoming blight ordinance preview, grant updates, and a state-level emergency services action signed by Governor Whitmer. The meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Payment of invoices, payroll and warrants totaling $10,277,347.58: approved (6-1). - Resolution #26-04-07 (Crestview Heights Brownfield Plan): approved (7-0). - Resolution #26-04-09 (Adopt 2026 County Equalized Values): approved (6-1 as noted in motions). - Resolution #26-04-08 (Submit 911 surcharge increase to Aug. 4, 2026 ballot): approved (6-1). - PA 116 approvals (Jacob Dase; Robert BeGole): approved (7-0 each). - Collective bargaining agreement (35th, 66th, Probate Courts/TPOAM): approved (7-0). - Personnel appointments and replacements listed in the minutes: approved (motions recorded as carried).