CHARLEVOIX CO., MI -- Charlevoix County Commissioners say they've had enough of Michigan creating laws and expecting counties to fund them.

Unfunded mandates are the basis behind a lawsuit the county plans to file against the state.

Shirley Roloff has been a Charlevoix County Commissioner for 13 years, and she says an older jingle sums it up best.

"It's like the old song, we're not going to take it anymore, so that's what we're going to look at, it is time for us to move forward, and hope the other counties follow suit," said Roloff.

Charlevoix County Commissioners are considering filing a lawsuit against the state because of "unfunded mandates."  For example, they say the state demands certain programs in the court system to be initiated and funded, yet, there's no state funding.

"Each county has their own unique problems, and sometimes it's easier to control it right in your back yard then when you do something statewide, even county wide, each township has its own unique, our 15 townships, each one has its very own unique," said Commissioner Shirlene Tripp.

Last year, the local government spent $2.2 billion to adhere to unfunded state mandates.

That number is how much the state under-funded the 83 counties in Michigan.  According to Commissioner Bob Drebenstedt, that number will continue to grow with laws like the smoking ban being passed.

"Who's going to enforce that?  Is the city going to enforce it?  Is the county going to enforce it?  Who's going to help us financially?" said Drebenstedt.

Drebenstedt is on the Michigan Association of Counties, and at his last meeting, he spoke of Charlevoix County's decision to sue the state.  He says other counties were on board.

"They were all in agreement they're tired of the state passing off responsibility to the county to fulfill a law that they've made," said Drebenstedt.

"I would like to think our state would take heat of what's about to be proceeded on, and say, hey, we don't want to spend this kind of money in a lawsuit, because that's our taxpayers money too, I'd like to see them say, here, let's see what the people are saying, and let's make some changes here," said Tripp.

The Commissioners say the County Prosecutor has begun collecting information on how to proceed and will present to the board after it's all collected.

Commissioners say it's also illegal for the state to have unfunded mandates.

Under the “Headlee Amendment” in the state's constitution, it's illegal for the state to not fund the programs it requires.