Michigan Townships Association

2023 Township Focus Archive

Click on the cover image to read a PDF copy of that month’s issue of Township Focus.

This month’s cover story:  Public involvement in township decision-making

Additional articles include: 

This month’s cover story:   Water and sewer rate studies: What, why—and how

Additional articles include: 

  • Community unites around township library, helps it move (Feature)
  • Special assessments to pay for police and fire (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • Audit documentation (Financial Forum)
  • 2022 public acts that impact townships (Inside Lansing)

This month’s cover story:   Navigating Right to Farm

Additional articles include: 

  • A winter 2023 economic conditions and outlook report (Feature)
  • Civil infraction questions answered by MTA Legal Counsel (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • Inside the proposed State budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (Inside Lansing)

This month’s cover story:   Breaking the Zoning Code

Additional articles include: 

  • Guidance issued, questions remain on Proposal 2022-2 implementation (Feature)
  • Township check signatures and authorized signers (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • EITC and pension changes, affordable housing, right-to-work (Inside Lansing)
  • 2023 MTA Conference preview

This month’s cover story:  Meet 2023 MTA President Pauline Bennett, and a look back at our 2023 Conference

Additional articles include: 

  • Township flags inspire local pride, sense of history (Feature)
  • Tabling motions and the Open Meetings Act (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • MOVE ballots to be counted up to six days after election (Inside Lansing)
  • 2023 keynoter urges officials to lead with ‘silver platter service’

This month’s cover story: Inside the Proposal 2 implementation laws

Additional articles include: 

  • Competitive bid process and considerations (Hello, MTA ?)
  • Budget measure approved for FY 2023-24 and supplemental funding for FY 2022-2023 (Inside Lansing)
  • Profiles in leadership: Michigan House and Senate leaders
  • Catching up with … township volunteer Violet Lentz (Feature)
  • 2023 MTA Professional Development Retreats registration details

This month’s cover story: Angry citizens, ‘constitutional auditors’ and more—When does free speech cross the line?

Additional articles include: 

  • Regular and special meetings, notices (Hello, MTA  ?)
  • County program helps preserve township farmland (Feature)
  • Insights into administering early voting (Feature)
  • 2023 MTA Vendor Directory 

This month’s cover story: Outdoor recreation
fosters quality of life, economic development

Additional articles include: 

  • The four Cs: Adapting to firefighter training
    requirement changes (Feature)
  • Record retention (Hello, MTA ?)
  • Property tax collections (Financial Forum) 
  • A look ahead to the fall legislative session (Inside Lansing)

This month’s cover story: Protecting your township from cyberattacks

Additional articles include: 

  • Inspiring tomorrow’s local leaders (Feature)
  • Board decisions and residents’ right to referendum (Hello, MTA ?)
  • Unclaimed property (Financial Forum) 
  • Don’t silence local voices to achieve renewable energy goals (Inside Lansing)

This month’s cover story: Is it time to hire a township manager?

Additional articles include: 

  • Addressing pension and OPEB costs with a Section 115 trust (Feature)
  • How the township spends and uses public money (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • What different accounting methods do townships use? (Financial Forum) 
  • PPT, poverty and veterans exemptions, Affordable Care Act codified and more! (Inside Lansing)

This month’s cover story: That’s a wrap — Inside the Michigan Legislature’s 2023 fall session

Additional articles include: 

  • A model for township leaders (Feature)
  • Types of surety bonds required for certain township officials (Hello, MTA … ?)
  • Township accrual accounts (Financial Forum) 
  • Legislative lowdown (Inside Lansing)