To: Delrico J. Loyd, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Barbara A. Menear, Circuit Court Administration
title
RE: Approval of an agreement between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $177,046.68, to provide for electronic legal research for various offices and departments; the cost of this agreement will be paid from the accounts listed
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve contract extension with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) for electronic legal research
BACKGROUND:
In June 2024, Circuit Court received authorization to enter into a contract with West Publishing (Thomson Reuters) to provide electronic legal research to county employees (RESO 2024-481). The contract expired on June 30, 2025. A one-year extension was approved in March 2025 (RESO 2025-1150) and is now scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026. This request is to approve a 2nd one year extension with a 2% increase, not to exceed $177,046.68.
Electronic legal research is used by judges, judicial law clerks, prosecutors, public defenders, corporation counsel and all other Genesee County employees who are attorneys. The Circuit Court manages the contract for convenience and one-point of contact with the vendor.
DISCUSSION:
The State of Michigan has a MiDEAL contract #C20000000622 with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters). Under this agreement, local units of government may enter into contracts with West Publishing and take advantage of state negotiated pricing.
A team including courts, the Prosecutor and the Public Defender was established to review the catalogue of electronic legal research options. This request is to approve a contract extension that satisfies the requirements of all courts and departments for electronic legal research.
Limited hard copy publications are also necessary and subject to a discounted rate with this vendor.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The contract extension was budgeted for fiscal year 26/27. No additional county appropriation is necessary. The following are the budget numbers: 1010-283.00-801.004 (Circuit) $50,696.76 1010-283.02-801.004 (LRC) $6,319.20 2689-283.03-801.004 (LRC Grant) $6,319.20 2150-290.00-801.000 (FOC) $16,946.28 2921-283.00-801.004 (Public Defender) $30,558.60 1010-294.00-801.004 (Probate) $5,562.00 1010-296.01-801.004 (Prosecutor) $55,769.52 2380-296.03-801.004 (Prosecutor Grant) $4,875.12
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This request aligns with the county priority of promoting long term financial stability by taking advantage of the MiDEAL option. Courts and multiple county departments worked in a collaborative manner on the agenda item.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Circuit Court Administrator to authorize extending the Electronic Legal Research contract between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation (dba, West, a Thomson Reuters business), whereby electronic legal research subscriptions and materials are provided for the term commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, at a cost to the County not to exceed $177,046.68 to be paid from the following accounts: 1010-283.00-801.004 (Circuit - $50,696.76), 1010-283.02-801.004 (LRC - $6,319.20), 2689-283.03-801.004 (LRC Grant - $6,319.20), 2150-290.00-801.000 (FOC - $16,946.28), 2921-283.00-801.004 (Public Defender - $30,558.60), 1010-294.00-801.004 (Probate - $5,562.00), 1010-296.01-801.004 (Prosecutor - $55,769.52), and 2380-296.03-801.004 (Prosecutor Grant - $4,875.12), is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the April 8, 2026 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County.