The office of the County
Treasurer was established by the Michigan
State Constitution (Article VII, Section 4).
The four-year term of office is filled by
partisan election. The duties and powers of
the County Treasurer are provided by state
law and by authorization of the County Board
of Commissioners.
The two main roles of the treasurer are as
the custodian of all county funds and the
collector of taxes. Additionally, the
treasurer fulfills many other duties.
The county receives money from several
sources. The principal source of revenue is
an ad valorem property tax. Other income is
received from state and federal grants,
interest income and various service and
license fees.
Many of the county's departments collect
money in the course of their business. This
money is periodically deposited with the
treasurer, who is in a sense, the county's
banker.
Besides revenue items, the treasurer is
responsible for large amounts of money in
various trust and agency funds. These
include such classes as circuit court trust,
veterans' trust, and special drainage
districts.