Roles & Responsibilities

In Michigan, if you don't live in a village or a city, then you live in a township. Have you ever wondered what the township government (your basic and most local form of government) does for you? Here’s a quick civics lesson:

Township government legally exists primarily to perform three overarching mandated functions assigned respectively to the Clerk, the Supervisor, and the Treasurer:

elections
property assessment
taxes collection

There are other, more narrow mandates which are also regulated by the state:

financial administration including budgets
accounting, investment
deposits
proper storage/conveyance of township records
proper conduct of township government business

We are legally allowed to offer additional services and programs not mandated by the state but permitted by enabling legislation, referred to as “permissive activities.” Examples in Crystal Lake Township are:

fire protection
cemeteries
airport authority
planning and zoning
library services

Historically, if a specific statute cannot be found that explicitly states or fairly implies that a particular task is a particular office’s responsibility, it is assumed that the duty falls on the Board collectively, or can be accepted by a specific Board member.

Core Competencies for Elected Officials

Although not dictated by state statute, Michigan Township Association (MTA) strongly emphasizes a basic level of competency for each of the board members. To date, CLT has not opted to adopt these, even as guidelines, but they are regularly referenced as helpful tools.

Click here for MTA's Core Competencies List for all four board positions: clerk, treasurer, supervisor and trustee.

Click here for 10 interesting facts to make you smarter about Michigan's townships.

Statutory Duties for the
5 elected Board Members

Clerk:

Keeps voter registration file and conducts elections
Maintains general ledger (financial "books") and

prepares financial statements

Prepares warrants for township checks
Maintains custody of all records
Records, publishes and maintains meeting minutes
Keeps ordinance book
Keeps the book of oaths
Responsible for special meeting notices
Delivers tax certificates to supervisor and county clerk by Sept 30
Must appoint a deputy
Must post a surety bond

Treasurer:

Collects real and personal property taxes
Keeps an account of receipts (revenues) and expenditures
Issues checks
Deposits revenues in approved depositories
Invests funds in approved investment vehicles
Collects delinquent personal property tax
Responsible for jeopardy assessments in collecting property tax
Collects mobile home specific tax
Must appoint a deputy
Must post a surety bond

Supervisor:

Moderates board and annual meetings

Chief assessing officer (if certified)

Secretary to Board of Review

Township’s legal agent

Must maintain records of supervisor’s office
Develops budget
Appoints some commission members

Member of elections commission

May call special meetings

May appoint a deputy
May administer the oath of office

Trustees:

Act as township legislators with same authority as other board offices at board meetings, required to vote on all issues (where there is no conflict of interest)
Responsible for township’s fiduciary health (stewardship)