Have you ever wondered what a Township Supervisor does? If you are considering a role in local politics, the Township Supervisor role may be exactly what you are looking for. Here’s an overview:
The Township Supervisor in Jackson County, as in other Michigan townships, serves as the presiding officer of the Township Board, the township’s chief assessing officer, its legal agent, and the chief administrator responsible for developing the annual budget.
Key Responsibilities
Moderator of Meetings: The Supervisor moderates all township board meetings and, if held, the annual meeting of electors. They have an equal voice and vote in board proceedings.
Chief Assessing Officer: The Supervisor is responsible for assessing property values within the township. If the Supervisor is not state-certified, the Township Board must appoint a certified assessor, who remains subordinate to the Supervisor.
Legal Agent: The Supervisor acts as the township’s agent for all legal business, including the handling of lawsuits and official process servers.
Budget Development and Administration: Unless a superintendent is appointed, the Supervisor is the chief administrative officer for preparing and administering the annual budget under policies formulated by the Township Board.
Personnel and Administration: The Supervisor manages and supervises all public improvements, works, and undertakings and acts as the personnel director for all township employees.
Appointments: The Supervisor appoints members to various commissions and committees (e.g., planning commission), typically with the concurrence of the Township Board.
Enforcement of Ordinances: They are responsible for seeing that all state laws and township ordinances are enforced.
Secretary of the Board of Review: The Supervisor serves as the secretary for the Board of Review, which hears property assessment appeals.
The specific role can vary depending on whether the township is a General Law Township or a Charter Township, and whether the board has chosen to delegate some administrative duties to a hired Township Superintendent. In a Charter Township, many administrative duties can be delegated to a superintendent, allowing the Supervisor to focus more on policy-making and board leadership.
If you are interested in becoming a local politician, we have resources available for Democratic candidates. Send us an email chair@jacksoncountydems.org.