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Your online learning journey begins here...

Welcome to MTA Online! If your township has already purchased an MTA Online Annual Subscription package, read on for details on how to start learning! 

Looking to learn more about MTA Online packages, and how to get signed up? Visit the MTA Online Subscription page here.


Getting Started with your MTA Online subscription package

All township officials and team members who had an email address on file with MTA at the time of your enrollment will be automatically subscribed and an email confirmation sent to the address on file. (See below for details on requesting accounts for new users at your township.)

Your login for this site is now the same email address and password used for your MTA member website access. Once you are logged in, click on MY WEBCASTS in the navigation bar to see the webcasts included in your package.

Click the name of the webcast you wish to view. From here you can download the presentation and other materials on the "Handouts" tab, see MTA publications and other resources on related topics on the "Resources" tab, or navigate to the "Content" tab and click the first segment to begin (click the green "View" to begin the first video).

Visit our Getting Started page to see additional information on system requirements, login assistance, and for troubleshooting tips if you experience any playback issues.

Adding New Users
Remember, your MTA Online subscription includes access not only for elected officials, but also for deputies, members of boards and commissions, township staff and even volunteers! Additional users who were not included in your initial roster may be added at any time. Each individual must have a unique email address that is not shared with another user. 

To add a new user, clerks and treasurers can follow the instructions available here for adding or updating users. Once your roster is updated, email education@michigantownships.org to let us know, and we'll grant access to any new or updated users. Please note: Although new users added later in the year may see a later expiration date listed in their account or for specific webcasts, all individuals from your township will be subject to the original renewal/expiration date set by the township's subscription purchase date.


Bonus Content & Classes
New courses or additional content may be added throughout the year for Premium and Plus level subscriptions but is not guaranteed; details will be emailed to subscription holders when available. 


Policies
Each subscription level includes a specific set of webcast courses, with access available for individuals affiliated with that specific member township. Additional courses may be added but are not guaranteed. To access courses not included at your subscription level, you may purchase them individually, or upgrade your subscription (contact MTA for details). Each user account must have a unique email address and password, as well as required contact information, in order to access the subscription. Some courses may be limited to a specific window of time. MTA Online subscriptions do not include access to, or registration for, any live or in-person classes or workshops unless specified in writing by MTA. You may not use your township's subscription to provide access to another person who is not affiliated with your township. See terms & conditions for additional details.


Questions?
As always, we encourage you to reach out should you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, either now or further along your learning journey! Contact us by phone at (517) 321-6467 or email mtaonline@michigantownships.org. 

Happy Learning,

The MTA Knowledge Center

What's included in your Premium Pass

This "All You Can Learn" subscription includes year-round access to every title in our Essentials and Plus packages (described below) as well as dozens of additional titles, including all of our "master level" Township Governance Academy courses. (Only two in-person courses are needed to complete the required TGA course curriculum! Learn more here.)

Get access to more than 100 webinars on dozens of topics! Available courses include:

  • Access Granted: What You Need to Know About the New ADA Accessibility Requirements
  • Accounting & Payroll
  • Anatomy of a Township
  • ARPA: Who’s Spending Money on What?
  • ARPA Reporting Requirements
  • Big Picture Capital Improvement Plan Funding
  • Blight Fight: Going Another Round
  • Board Authorities, Responsibilities and Roles
  • Breaking the Zoning Code
  • Bringing Broadband into Your Community
  • Broadband: The Middle-Mile and Your Township
  • Budget Development and Forecasting
  • Building a Better Budget - Basic
  • Building a Better Budget - Advanced
  • Building Bridges: Confidence as the Catalyst for Collaboration
  • Campaign Finance Act: What CAN We Say?
  • Cemetery Management
  • Choosing the Right Township Manager
  • Civil and Collaborative Leadership
  • Crisis Communication & Message Management
  • Effective Communication Strategies
  • Effectively Exercising Board Authority
  • Elections Prep & Primer
  • Elections Update (2025)
  • Emerging Issues in Planning & Zoning (6 segments)
  • Ethical Considerations
  • Exploring Township Revenue Sources
  • Financial Fundamentals and Insights
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Fundamentals of Municipal Financing
  • Geez! I Wish I Hadn’t Said That
  • Governing an Accountable Fire Department
  • In the Transition
  • Innovating Your Township: How-to Methods & Legal Info
  • Introduction to Planning & Zoning
  • Making the Most of Your Meetings
  • Managing Expectations: A Positive, Pain-Free Audit
  • Managing Public Meetings & Policies
  • Meeting Misconceptions
  • Meeting Myths, Mysteries & Misconceptions
  • New Officials Training (for each elected office)
  • No One Left Inside
  • Nuances of the Right to Farm Act
  • Onboarding New Officials
  • Payroll Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
  • Powering Up: What PA 233 Means for Your Township
  • Practical Approach to Records Management
  • Providing a Safe Township Workplace
  • Prudent Policies
  • Roles & Functions of the ZBA
  • Sandbox Etiquette
  • Secrets to Great Board Meetings
  • Show Me the Money! Grant Writing Tips
  • Solar Energy Facilities
  • Spending Public Money
  • Special Assessment Procedures
  • Stay in Your Lane: Working with Your Road Commission
  • Subpoenas, Depositions and Discovery, Oh My!
  • Taxation Trouble Spots
  • Tools of Engagement: Township Websites & Social Media
  • Top Topics for Today’s Townships
  • Top Township Legal Pitfalls
  • Township Ordinances 101 (3 part series)
  • Township Public Safety Services: So Many Options!
  • Treasurers Guide to Tax Collection
  • Urban Cooperation Strategies
  • What the Board Needs to Know about Assessing
  • What the Bd Needs to Know about Clerk & Treasurer Dynamics
  • What Townships Need to Know about Grants
  • What You Need to Know about Corrective Action Plans
  • Who Gets Paid What... and How?
  • You Paid What for What?
  • Zoning for Your Community Identity

 

Premium Pass subscribers also get access to all 11 TGA courses...

Board Roles & Relations (B-101)
How Boards Make Decisions (B-102)
Creating a Vision for Your Township (B-103)
Utilizing Strategic Planning (B-104)
Making Meetings Work More Effectively (B-105)     
Linking with the Community (B-106)		At Your Service: Meeting Township Needs (F-101)
Land Use: Defining Your Township’s Future (F-102)
Township Finances (F-103)
Managing Your Township Team (F-104)
Fundamentals of Assessment & Taxation (F-105)

Plus, watch live or recorded versions of MTA's Now You Know webinar series. Past topics include:

Adopting Ordinances
Appointing New Board & Commission Members
Assessing Your Township's Assessing
Blight Buster
Board Compensation: What's In Your Wallet?
Budgeting... It's a Process
Cemetery Services
Cloud Chronicles: Digital Records Management
Drafting Ordinances
Elections: Ready? Set. Go!
Employee, Volunteer or Independent Contractor?
Financial Reporting: From Revenue to Red Flags
FOIA... What's All the Fuss?
In the Transition
Legislative Wrap-up (2024)
Meeting Management: What to Do When Things Change      
Meeting Requirements
My Deputy and Me
Onboarding New Officials
Payroll Precision: Methods and Records
Planning for a Millage Question		Preventing Chaos: How to Manage Records
Prudent Policies
Public Use of Township Property and Facilities
Record Ready: Basic Records Management
Renewable Energy Siting: What's Next?
Role of the FOIA Coordinator
Special Assessments for Public Safety
Spending Public Money
Successful Ordinance Enforcement Strategies
Taking Township Minutes
Tax Collection and Your Township
The Art of the Agenda
The Perks of the Job: Understanding Municipal Benefits
The Role of the Zoning Administrator
What the Board Needs to Know About Elections
What the Board Needs to Know About Tax Collection
What You Need to Know About Tax Rate Request Form
What Your Board Needs to Know About July Bd of Review
What Your Board Needs to Know About Planning & Zoning
Who Can Talk to the Township Attorney, and When?
Why You Need a Township Attorney

Upcoming Now You Know sessions for 2025:

  • July 16 — Summer Legislative Update
  • August 13 — Coverage Matters: Surety Bonds & Insurance 101
  • September 17 — Revenue Sources: Coins in the Couch
  • October 22 — Governmental Immunity: Wait, Can I Get in Trouble for That?
  • November 19 — And Other Duties as Assigned
  • December 17 — 2025 Legislative Wrap-up

What's Included: Essentials & Plus levels

Plus Package

Get access to all titles listed in the Essentials Package, plus 20 more classes that take your township in-depth on additional services some townships provide. Titles included are: 

  • Access Granted: What You Need to Know About the New ADA Accessibility Requirements
  • Accounting & Payroll (4-part series)
  • Anatomy of a Township
  • ARPA Reporting Requirements
  • Blight Buster
  • Breaking the Zoning Code
  • Budget Development & Forecasting
  • Building a Better Budget – Basic & Advanced versions (4-part series)
  • Campaign Finance Act: What CAN We Say?
  • Cemetery Management (3-part series)
  • Effectively Exercising Board Authority (2-part series)
  • Elections Prep & Primer
  • Elections Update (April 2025)
  • Emerging Issues in Planning & Zoning (5 segments)
  • Ethical Considerations
  • Exploring Township Revenue Sources 
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Fundamentals of Municipal Financing
  • Governing an Accountable Fire Department 
  • Introduction to Planning & Zoning (4-part series)      
  • Making the Most of Your Meetings
  • Managing Public Meetings & Policies
  • Meeting Misconceptions 
  • Nuances of the Right to Farm Act
  • Powering Up: What PA 233 Means for Your Township
  • Practical Approach to Records Management
  • Providing a Safe Township Workplace
  • Role of the Zoning Administrator
  • Roles & Functions of the ZBA (3-part series)
  • Secrets to Great Board Meetings 
  • Spending Public Money
  • Special Assessment Procedures 
  • Special Assessments for Public Safety
  • Taxation Trouble Spots 
  • Township Ordinances 101 (4 part series)
  • What the Board Needs to Know about Planning & Zoning
  • Who Gets Paid What … and How? 
  • Zoning for Community Identity

Essentials Package

Offers access to 21 "essential" courses, featuring topics designed for all board members and required knowledge for all townships. Titles include:

  • Access Granted: What You Need to Know About the New ADA Accessibility Requirements
  • Accounting & Payroll (4-part series) 
  • Anatomy of a Township
  • ARPA Reporting Requirements
  • Budget Development & Forecasting 
  • Building a Better Budget (4-part series) - Basic & Advanced versions
  • Campaign Finance Act: What CAN We Say?
  • Effectively Exercising Board Authority (2-part series) 
  • Elections Prep & Primer
  • Elections Update (April 2025) 
  • Ethical Considerations 
  • Exploring Township Revenue Sources  
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Fundamentals of Municipal Financing
  • Making the Most of Your Meetings 
  • Managing Public Meetings & Policies
  • Meeting Misconceptions  
  • Nuances of the Right to Farm Act 
  • Practical Approach to Records Management
  • Providing a Safe Township Workplace 
  • Secrets to Great Board Meetings  
  • Spending Public Money 
  • Special Assessment Procedures  
  • Taxation Trouble Spots  
  • What the Board Needs to Know about Planning & Zoning 
  • Who Gets Paid What … and How?