This budgetary center, which is under the control of the Fiscal Services Group, provides internal services to all City departments. Telephone charges, liability and property insurance premiums, internal claims and risk management costs, centralized print services and office supplies, and mailroom services are accounted for in this division. Workers' compensation coverage is wage/salary driven and is therefore allocated in the individual departmental budgets, as a cost of personnel, rather than being included in Central Services. The in-house central printing operation reduces our dependence on outside sources for these services at substantial savings and convenience to the City. A computerized, just-in-time, office supply system provides cost savings and frees-up valuable space for more productive uses. Demonstrating the City's concern for the environment, substantial use of recycled paper and recyclable commodities is evident, and bid specifications routinely include these considerations in the purchasing process.
The City is committed to sound claims practices and to effective loss prevention and safety programs. The City is self insured for workers' compensation under a program facilitated through the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA), with claims handled by a third party administrator and statutory excess liability insurance provided by Safety National Casualty Corporation. Liability and property insurance is provided by (MMRMA). The MMRMA is comprised of a select group of governmental entities who combine to purchase liability and property insurance and safety and loss prevention services. The City Attorney acts as co-counsel on all litigation handled through the insurance program, thus assuring a coordinated effort and maximizing the effectiveness of outside resources. In addition, the City Administrator currently serves on the MMRMA Board of Directors, reflecting the City's active involvement in the program.