Spending Public Money

Townships need statutory authority to spend public money. If a law says or implies that a township may spend public money on an activity, then it is a lawful expenditure (as long as you get equal value or better in return). But if you can’t point to a statute that authorizes townships to spend money on a particular activity, then it’s an unlawful expenditure.  In this webcast, you’ll discover the general guidelines and specific examples of lawful and unlawful expenditures determined by statute, case law. 

Thank you to C2AE for helping underwrite the cost of this program. For more information, visit c2ae.com.

Catherine Mullhaupt

Staff Attorney, Member Information Services

MTA

Catherine provides township officials and employees with information and resources regarding the day-to-day functions of township government. She writes for the "Hello, MTA...?" and Legal Briefs columns, and other articles in the Michigan Township Focus, develops MIS Department resource materials and webpages, authors MTA publications, and presents workshop and conference sessions, as well as live and recorded online courses.

She joined MTA in 1991, spending her first nine years in MTA's Education Department writing and editing articles for the Township Focus and MTA publications. She coordinated educational workshops and the annual MTA trade show, and assisted in coordinating the annual MTA educational conference. 

She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 2006 and is currently the MTA Staff Attorney.

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Spending Public Money
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin.
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. Townships need statutory authority to spend public money. If a law says or implies that a township may spend public money on an activity, then it is a lawful expenditure (as long as you get equal value or better in return). But if you can’t point to a statute that authorizes townships to spend money on a particular activity, then it’s an unlawful expenditure. In this webcast, you’ll discover the general guidelines and specific examples of lawful and unlawful expenditures determined by statute, case law. Thank you to C2AE for helping underwrite the cost of this program. For more information, visit c2ae.com.