MIDAS Council of Governments is an intergovernmental agency (28E and 28H) that was created in response to common interests of governments and the need for cooperative approaches to solve area-wide issues. This cooperative venture is intended to help local governments improve their capacity to implement services by defining regional issues, problems, and opportunities; setting priorities and formulating policies, plans and programs to deal with them; and achieving effcient and effective action on area wide matters through communications, coordination, and cooperation.

Programs are voluntary as MIDAS does not have authority to bind its members, nor can it force adherence to any given plan or policy.