Membership
Everything you need to know about the 2026 membership transition, in one place.
If your agency received our February or March email, thank you for your patience as we stand up the new CLEMIS Authority. This page is your single resource for understanding what the transition means for your agency, what you need to do, and when. If you have questions that are not answered here, our Membership team is a phone call or email away, and we mean that literally: reach us at membership@clemisauthority.org or call (947) 813-6903. We are here to make this process straightforward for you.
Your CLEMIS Services Are Not Changing
Every application your agency relies on today remains fully operational. Records Management, Computer Aided Dispatch, Jail Management, Citations, Crash Reporting, Crime Analytics, and all other CLEMIS applications continue without interruption. The same team that supports those systems is still in place. The only thing that has changed is governance: your membership now runs through the CLEMIS Authority rather than Oakland County.
If you have already received a letter from Oakland County indicating that their service agreement is ending, that letter is expected and is part of this transition. It is not a disruption. The CLEMIS Authority agreement is the continuity.
What is Changing, and Why
For nearly 60 years, CLEMIS operated as part of Oakland County government. Last year, Oakland County and CLEMIS member agencies established the CLEMIS Authority as its own independent government entity, governed directly by the member agencies it serves rather than by county administration.
That change is good news for members. It means your agency has a more direct voice in how CLEMIS operates and evolves. It also means that the Authority needs its own agreements with the communities it serves, separate from Oakland County. This is an administrative requirement of becoming an independent entity. It does not change your services, your costs, or the people supporting your agency.
To learn more about why the Authority was formed and what it means for the network, visit our home page.
What Your Agency Needs to Do
Agencies need to complete their membership agreements with the CLEMIS Authority. The process involves two documents: a Participation Agreement and a Membership Order. Agreement documents will be available in April 2026, and you will be notified directly when they are ready to review and execute. This section explains what to expect so you can begin planning now.
Step 1: Participation Agreement
This step is for the Mayor, City Manager, Township Supervisor, Village President, County Administrator, or whoever holds authority to execute government to government agreements on behalf of your community. For courts, state agencies, and federal agencies, this is typically the same person who will also sign the Membership Order.
Every participating community or organization signs a Participation Agreement with the CLEMIS Authority. This is a one-page document with two checkboxes. The first incorporates the Interlocal Agreement, which establishes your community's participation in the governance of the CLEMIS Authority and gives your community a formal voice in setting its direction. The second incorporates the Main Services Agreement, which defines the general terms and conditions that govern all CLEMIS memberships. The Main Services Agreement checkbox is required for all signatories. The Interlocal Agreement checkbox is optional and applies to communities and organizations that wish to participate in Authority governance.
Step 2: Your Agency's Membership Order
This step is for the Chief of Police, Sheriff, Fire Chief, Director, Court Administrator, or agency head who manages your agency's CLEMIS membership.
Each participating department executes a Membership Order that confirms your current membership tier, your software, and the services you receive. This is your department's direct agreement with the Authority. A police department, fire department, jail, code enforcement unit, animal control office, court, or other department within the same community each signs its own Order reflecting their specific needs. For state agencies, federal agencies, and courts, the same authorized representative who signed the Participation Agreement will typically also sign the Membership Order.
These steps may require review by your legal counsel and formal approval by your board or council before anyone can sign. We know that takes time. We are giving you advance notice now specifically so there is no last minute scramble.
Key Dates
February 2026 — The CLEMIS Authority formally established as an independent government entity. Transition announced to all member agencies.
March 2026 — Member agencies and community authorized signatories receive introductory communications explaining the transition and what to expect.
April 2026 — Agreement documents distributed. Instructions and links will be sent directly and posted on this page and in the Document Center.
September 30, 2026 — All agreements must be in place to ensure uninterrupted service continuity.
Common Questions
Why does my agency need to sign a new agreement if we have been a CLEMIS member for years? The CLEMIS Authority is now its own government entity, separate from Oakland County, and it requires its own agreements with the agencies and communities it serves. Your existing relationship with CLEMIS has not changed; the legal structure around it has.
Will our services be interrupted during this transition? No. All CLEMIS applications remain fully operational throughout the transition. The September 30, 2026 deadline exists to ensure continuity beyond that date.
What is the Participation Agreement? The Participation Agreement is the primary document that establishes your community's or organization's relationship with the CLEMIS Authority. It is a one-page document with two checkboxes: one to incorporate the Interlocal Agreement, which covers governance participation, and one to incorporate the Main Services Agreement, which covers the general terms and conditions of membership. The Main Services Agreement checkbox is required. The Interlocal Agreement checkbox is optional.
What is the Interlocal Agreement, and does our community need to sign it? The Interlocal Agreement establishes your community's participation in the governance of the CLEMIS Authority, giving your community a formal voice in setting priorities and direction. It is incorporated through a checkbox in the Participation Agreement. Communities and organizations that want to participate in Authority governance check this box. It is not required for communities that simply want to continue receiving CLEMIS services.
What is a Membership Order, and who signs it? The Membership Order is the agreement specific to each participating department, defining that department's membership type, software, and services. Each department signs its own Order: a police department, fire department, jail, code enforcement unit, animal control office, court, or other department within the same community would each have a separate Order. A department can sign an Order even if the community does not participate in Authority governance through the Interlocal Agreement.
What is the Main Services Agreement? The Main Services Agreement defines the general terms and conditions that govern all CLEMIS memberships. It is not signed as a standalone document. Instead, it is incorporated through a checkbox in the Participation Agreement and applies to every community or organization that executes one.
So how many documents does our community need in total? Every participating community or organization signs one Participation Agreement, and each participating department signs its own Membership Order. If your community wants to participate in Authority governance, the Interlocal Agreement box is checked on the Participation Agreement. A community with three participating departments would have one Participation Agreement and three Orders. For state agencies, federal agencies, and courts, the same authorized representative typically signs both the Participation Agreement and the Membership Order, since there is no separate community government layer.
Who in our community government needs to sign, and who determines that? The appropriate signatory is whoever holds legal authority to execute government to government agreements for your community: often a Mayor, City Manager, Township Supervisor, Village President, or County Administrator. Your legal counsel can confirm the right person for your jurisdiction.
Does our community government need board or council approval before signing? It may. Many interlocal agreements require a board or council resolution before an authorized official can execute them. We recommend consulting your legal counsel early so that approval can be scheduled with enough time before the September 30 deadline.
Will our cost change as a result of this transition? Moving your membership to the Authority does not trigger a price change. The annual 5% pricing adjustment that was scheduled for July 1 has been extended at your current 2025 rate through September 30, 2026, giving you three additional months at the same cost. The adjustment takes effect October 1, aligned with the Authority's fiscal year.
What happens if we do not complete our agreements before September 30, 2026? Agencies that have not executed their agreements by September 30 risk interruption to their CLEMIS services. We are committed to working with every agency to complete this process well before that date. If your agency faces specific obstacles, contact us early so we can help.
We received a letter from Oakland County about their agreement ending. Should we be concerned? No. That letter is expected and is part of the transition. It is not a disruption notice. The CLEMIS Authority agreement is the continuity of your existing services under the new governance structure.
Where do we find the actual agreement documents? Agreement templates will be posted on this page and in the Document Center at clemisauthority.org/documents in April 2026. You will be notified directly when they are available.
Who do we contact if we have questions or need help? Call us at (947) 813-6903 or email membership@clemisauthority.org. You can also visit our home page at clemisauthority.org and click Get Updates to stay informed as the transition progresses.
Membership Agreement Documents
The agreement templates for the 2026 membership transition will be posted here in April 2026. When available, you will find the Participation Agreement, which incorporates the Interlocal Agreement and Main Services Agreement, as well as the Membership Order for each participating department.
You will be notified directly by email when documents are available. You can also visit the Document Center for all official Authority documents, including board resolutions and meeting minutes.
We will provide links to these document templates here when they are finalized:
- Participant Agreement
- Interlocal Agreement
- Main Services Agreement
- Member Order
Questions? We Are Here.
Our team is available to answer questions about the transition, the agreement process, or anything else on this page. Whether your question is simple or complicated, we would rather hear from you early than have your agency run short on time.
Phone: (947) 813-6903
Stay Informed
Not Yet a CLEMIS Member?
If your agency is not currently part of the CLEMIS network and you are exploring membership, we welcome that conversation. CLEMIS serves law enforcement, fire, jail, dispatch, and other public safety agencies across Michigan, providing proven technology at public safety pricing through a member governed, non profit authority. Please contact us at:
Phone: (947) 813-6903