Services
Industries
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. 2004
Cleary College, B.B.A. 2001
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Steven D. Mann specializes in the area of municipal finance, representing public agencies as bond counsel.
His practice covers all facets of tax increment financing, special assessments, and economic development. He has also authored several amicus curiae briefs for both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court, arguing on behalf public bodies and municipal associations in cases involving complex issues related to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.
Honors
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Municipal Law, 2021-present
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude; Managing Associate, Law Review; Voelker Award, most significant contribution to the publication
Cleary College, summa cum laude
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, President, 2023-present; Board of Directors, 2016-present
Michigan Municipal League, Legal Defense Fund, Board of Directors, 2016-2019
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
Charter Township of Plymouth, Trustee (appointed), 2015-2016; Trustee (elected), 2004-2012; Supervisor (elected), 2000-2004
Assembly of the Rouge Communities–Organization Committee
Colonial Kiwanis Club of Plymouth
Plymouth Community Foundation–Steering Committee
Teaching
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Adjunct Professor, Public/Municipal Finance Law, 2017-2023
Speeches
"Lawful Borrowing Options," Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference, Traverse City, Michigan, April 24, 2024
"A Primer on Lawful Borrowing Options," Michigan Townships Association Annual Pre-Conference, Traverse City, Michigan, April 22, 2024
"At Your Service: Meeting Township Needs," Michigan Townships Association Township Governance Academy, Cadillac, Michigan, August 2, 2023
"Funding Fire Services," Michigan Townships Association, Harris, Michigan, July 19, 2023
"Municipal Finance Fundamentals," Michigan Municipal League Elected Officials Academy, Bay City, May 20, 2023
"Raising Revenue in a Stagnant Economy," Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference, Acme, Michigan, April 19, 2023
"Funding Township Road Improvements" and "Updating and Maintaining Your Township's Water and Sewer Infrastructure," Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference, Lansing, Michigan, April 26-27, 2022
"Consider the Options: Township Funding of Local Roads," Otsego County Township Supervisors Association, October 19, 2021
"Financial Aspects of Debt Issuance," Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, Treasurer to Treasurer Series, May 18, 2021
"What's the Latest with the Open Meetings Act?", Michigan Municipal League, CapCon 2021, March 16, 2021
"Financing Drain Projects" (Co-Presenter), Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners, New Drain Commissioners School virtual conference, January 8, 2021
COVID-19 Webinar on Virtual Public Meetings, Hosted by the Michigan Municipal League, Co-Presenter, March 20, 2020
"Funding Emergency Services," Michigan Townships Association, Frankenmuth, Michigan, September 25, 2019
"Community Network Funding Sources" (Panelist), Michigan Broadband Summit, Gaylord, Michigan, September 24, 2019
"At Your Service: Meeting Township Needs," Michigan Townships Association, Township Governance Academy, Bay Harbor, Michigan, September 18, 2019
"Unpacking the Mysteries of Revenue Sources," Township Treasurers' Professional Development Retreat, Bellaire, Michigan, July 16, 2019
"The History, Recent Amendments and Practical Application of the Freedom of Information Act," Panel Discussion, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys/State Bar of Michigan Governmental Law Section – Joint Educational Conference, Bay Harbor, Michigan, June 21, 2019
"Special Assessments for Public Improvement and Police and Fire Services," Livingston County Treasurer's Association, Howell, Michigan, June 11, 2019
"Tax Increment Financing: Is Your TIF in Compliance?", U.P. Managers Spring 2019 Meeting, Gladstone/Escanaba, Michigan, May 17, 2019
"FOIA and OMA Compliance in an Electronic Era," Michigan School Business Officials 81st Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 1, 2019
"Ethics: Understanding Conflicts of Interest Issues," Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, April 29, 2019
"Tax Increment Financing: Is Your DDA In Compliance?", Michigan Townships Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2, 2019
"Special Assessments: Financing Infrastructure Projects or Police and Fire Needs," Michigan Townships Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2, 2019
"Options for Financing Local Improvements and Purchases," Michigan Townships Association, MTA Legal Institute for Municipal Attorneys, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 1, 2019
"Township Funding of Local Roads," County Road Association of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, March 13, 2019
"Road Agencies and Drain Commissioners – Working Out the Overlap," County Road Association of Michigan, 4th Annual Legal Issues Symposium, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, December 4, 2018
"Funding Township Improvements," Michigan Association of Township Supervisors, Bay City, Michigan, October 3, 2018
"Special Assessments," Michigan Townships Association & Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, UP North Legal Institute, Harris, Michigan, July 31, 2018
"Funding Township Roads," Michigan Townships Association, Acme Township, April 25, 2018
"Funding Township Improvements," Michigan Townships Association, Acme Township, April 25, 2018
"Complying with FOIA and OMA," Michigan School Business Officials 80th Annual Conference, Detroit, April 18, 2018
"Intergovernmental Cooperation," Michigan Municipal League, Advanced Weekender, Frankenmuth, Michigan, Feb. 24, 2018
"Causes of Fiscal Distress and Sharing Services," Michigan Municipal League, Advanced Weekender, Frankenmuth, Michigan, Feb. 24, 2018
"At Your Service: Meeting Township Needs," Michigan Townships Association, Township Governance Academy, Jackson, Michigan, Jan. 17, 2018
"Social Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Legalities," Michigan Municipal League, Holland, Michigan, Panelist, Sept. 17, 2017
"MML's Elected Officials Essentials Workshop," MML U.P. Education Summit, Marquette, Michigan, June 1, 2017
"Raising Revenue in a Stagnant Economy," Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference, Lansing, Michigan, April 11, 2017
"Fundamentals of Municipal Financing," Michigan Townships Association Annual Conference, Lansing, Michigan, April 11, 2017
"The Michigan Bond Market Review," CDFA's Michigan Finance Roundtable Webinar, Panelist, March 23, 2017
"Local Road Funding 101: An Overview of Financial Issues and Legal Options," Calhoun County Road Department, Panelist, Calhoun, Michigan, March 17, 2017
"Local Road Funding 101: An Overview of Financial Issues and Legal Options," Jackson County Department of Transportation, Panelist, Jackson, Michigan, March 10, 2017
"Ethics in the Public Sector," Michigan Municipal Risk Management Association, Lansing, Michigan, March 2, 2017
"Open Meetings Act Update," State Bar of Michigan – Public Corporations Law Section, 2017 Winter Seminar, The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan, Feb. 10, 2017
"The Role of Township Trustees," Michigan Township Association, Port Huron, Michigan, Dec. 13, 2016
"Hot Legal Topics Special Assessments," Michigan Municipal League – 2016 Annual Convention, Mackinac Island, Michigan, Sept. 15, 2016
"MNJTP Update and Bond Financing," Michigan Community College Business Officers Association, 2016 Summer Event, Grand Traverse, Michigan, July 29, 2016
"Special Assessments: New and Innovative," 18th Annual Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys and State Bar of Michigan - Public Corporations Law Section Summer Education Conference, Harbor Springs, Michigan, June 25, 2016
"Technology Impact on the Open Meetings Act," MML 2016 U.P. Education Summit, Ironwood, Michigan, June 9, 2016
"Sunshine Laws & Local Governments," MAMA, Local Government Academy 301, Lansing, Michigan, May 18, 2016
"Other Sources of Local Funding," MAMA, Local Government Academy 301, Lansing, Michigan, May 19, 2016
"Bonding 101," County Road Association, 2016 Commissioners’ Seminar, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, April 18, 2016
"At Your Service: Meeting Township Needs Township Governance Academy," Michigan Townships Association, Battle Creek, Michigan, March 2016
"Regional Cooperation," Michigan Municipal League Elected Officials Academy, Advanced Weekender, Frankenmuth, Michigan, Feb. 27, 2016
"Borrowing Money for Capital Projects and Leasing Equipment," Michigan Townships Association, Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 2016
"Economic Redevelopment Using Tax Increment Revenues," Michigan Townships Association, Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 20, 2016
"Ethics in the Public Sector," Michigan Townships Association, Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 19, 2016
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Webinar, Feb. 18, 2015
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Advanced Institute, Lansing, Mich., March 24, 2015
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Municipal League Capital Conference, Lansing, Michigan, March 25, 2015
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Governmental Finance Officers Association, Webinar, May 12, 2015
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Municipal League, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, June 4, 2015
"Changes to the FOIA," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Webinar, June 9, 2015
"Ethics in the Public Sector," Michigan Governmental Finance Officers Association Lansing, Michigan, Feb. 20, 2015
"Regional Cooperation," MML Elected Officials Academy Advanced Weekender, Frankenmuth, Michigan, Feb. 21, 2015
"Municipal Finance in 2015," Michigan Association of Township Supervisors, Chelsea, Michigan, April 23, 2015
"OMA/FOIA Basics in the Internet Age," Michigan School Business Officials, Detroit, Michigan, April 29, 2015
"Ethics in the Public Sector," Private Training Conference, Dearborn, Michigan, June 10, 2015
"Financing Municipal Improvements," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Marquette, Michigan, Sept. 25, 2015
"OMA/FOIA in the Electronic Age," Michigan School Business Officials, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2014
"Legal Update," U.P. City Managers, Marquette, Michigan, May 2014
"Financing Energy Conservation Improvements," Michigan School Business Officials, Crystal Mountain, Michigan, Oct. 2014
"Achieving Council Efficiency - Roles and Responsibilities," Michigan Municipal League, Marquette, Michigan, Oct. 2014
"Municipal Finance in 2015 and Beyond," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Marquette, Michigan, Oct. 2014
"Delivering Township Services," Michigan Townships Association Township Governance Academy, Lansing, Michigan, Oct. 2014
"Financial Challenges to Local Government CLE," ABA Section on State and Local Government Law 2013 Fall Council Meeting, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Oct. 24, 2013
"Sunshine Laws and Local Government," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys Law Academy, March 21, 2013
"Statutory and Case Law Developments Regarding the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act" (Co-presenter), State Bar of Michigan - Public Corporations Law Section, Feb. 8, 2013
"Fundamentals of Municipal Finance," Michigan Townships Association, Jan. 24, 2013
"The Open Meetings Act Webinar Series," Closed Sessions, Sections 8A and 8C, Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Oct. 10, 2012
"FOIA vs Discover" (Co-presenter), Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, Lansing, Michigan, March 20, 2012
"Financing Lessons Learned in a Down Economy," Michigan Townships Association, Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 25, 2012
"Special Assessment Procedures," Michigan Townships Association, Lansing, Michigan, August 30, 2011; Gaylord, Michigan, Aug. 31, 2011
"The Freedom of Information Act," Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, Lansing, Michigan, May 23, 2011
"The Freedom of Information Act," Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys Advanced Academy, Lansing, Michigan, March 24, 2011
"The Freedom of Information Act," Michigan Municipal League On-site Training, Romulus, Michigan, February 3, 2011; Grand Haven, Michigan, Feb. 9, 2011
"Fundamentals of Municipal Finance," Michigan Association of Township Supervisors, Oct. 21, 2009
"Funding and Delivering Township Services," Michigan Townships Association (Township Governance Academy), Saginaw, Michigan, September 18, 2009; Frankenmuth, Michigan, April 29, 2011; Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 24, 2012
"Fundamentals of Municipal Finance," (Co-presenter Patrick F. McGow) Michigan Townships Association, Jan. 28, 2009
"Financing Capital Improvements," (Co-presenter Thomas D. Colis) Michigan Townships Association, Jan. 27, 2009
"Special Assessment Procedures," Michigan Townships Association, July 22, 2008, and August 19, 2008
"Financing Township Road Improvements," Michigan Townships Association, June 5, 2008
"Bond Financing Basics," Northern Michigan Public Service Academy, April 30, 2008
"Implications of the Michigan Business Tax on Tax Increment Finance Entities," Wayne County Treasurers Association, Sept. 26, 2007
Publications
"The Legalities of Social Media," The Review, Michigan Municipal League, January/February 2023 (Co-authored with Ronald Liscombe)
"Recent Developments in What's Public Under Michigan's FOIA," Michigan Bar Journal 99: 7, July 2020 (Co-authored with Caroline Giordano)
"The Open Meetings Act Chapter, Michigan Public Employment And Labor Relations Law," Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association, 2016 Online Edition (Co-authored with Ronald Liscombe)
"The Freedom of Information Act Chapter, Michigan Public Employment And Labor Relations Law," Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association, 2016 Online Edition (Co-authored with Ronald Liscombe)
"Significant Changes to Michigan's FOIA Take Effect July 31, 2015," The Review (the official magazine of the Michigan Municipal League), May/June 2015 (Co-author Cassie Hare)
"Sunshine Laws and Local Government," Chapter 5, Michigan Municipal Law, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, (Update for FOIA Changes, June 22, 2015)
E-Alert: Significant Changes to Michigan FOIA Laws Coming In July, January 16, 2015
"Sunshine Laws and Local Government," Chapter 5, Michigan Municipal Law, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2012 (Co-author)
"State Revolving Fund, Rural Development Accommodate Drainage District Financings," Pipeline Magazine, Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners, Vol. 17, No. 4, Fourth Quarter 2008
