Pontiac Times

• Coulter's three-year, balanced budget ends the practice of planning to use fund balance to support ongoing operations.
• Priorities include investing in healthcare, roads, workforce development, mental health, and advocating for older adults.
• Fairness in the criminal justice system is a priority as the county pursues $9.7 million in state grant funding to stand up a public defender's office.

Pontiac, Michigan– Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter's balanced, three-year, billion-dollar budget was approved with bipartisan support from the Board of Commissioners Thursday. The budget for fiscal years 2023-2025 includes investments in healthcare, roads, and workforce development as well as funding to stand-up a public defender's office.

"We're proud of this balanced budget because it helps Oakland County residents to live their best lives," County Executive Dave Coulter said. "Investing in our people, communities, and businesses defines our priorities for the coming years."

The budget also offers a five percent cost of living adjustment for county employees' salaries to lessen the impact of the rising costs of basic needs such as groceries and gas and to ensure the county continues to attract and retain a well-qualified workforce.

Workforce Development

The county is strengthening its workforce through the Oakland80 program, Coulter's initiative to help 80 percent of Oakland County residents attain a post-secondary degree or certification by 2030. This includes career and education navigators who support residents to achieve their college and career goals.

Infrastructure

The budget includes $4 million to fund important road projects in all Oakland County communities, in partnership with those local units of government, supplementing federal and state road funding.

Mental Health

American Rescue Plan dollars will continue to augment improving mental health in schools, hospitals, non-profits, and the community. To date, the county has appropriated more than $24 million to sustain mental health programs and initiatives.

Criminal Justice

Fairness in the criminal justice system is a priority in this budget as the county pursues $9.7 million in state grant funding to stand up a public defender's office and ensure that all residents receive qualified legal representation. Funding will also support hiring and retention bonuses for law enforcement personnel in the sheriff's office.

Older Adult Advocate Position

This is a new position that will coordinate and help improve services the county provides to older residents across all departments.

Environmental Sustainability

Oakland County is also creating the first comprehensive, campus-wide environmental sustainability plan which will guide the county in achieving net zero greenhouse gas commissions by 2050. An investment of approximately $650,000 is included in the budget for additional efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions, build the county's Climate Action Plan, and more efficiently manage facility maintenance projects.

Investments in Affordable Housing, Healthcare, and Diversity and Equity

• County investments will increase the inventory of affordable housing and expand home repair services.
• Oakland County's Health 360 Program will enhance its partnership with Honor Health by offering residency programs to help train doctors.
• The budget provides $250,000 in ongoing support for the Diverse Abilities Program, which offers employment opportunities for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities who face barriers to employment, frees up administrative and labor hours from other workers, and supports the county's diversity hiring goals.
• The budget includes a new position in the Oakland County Purchasing Division to support outreach efforts to ensure that businesses owned by minorities, women, and disabled veterans can bid on county contracts.

The total budget, just over $1 billion, eliminates the planned use of fund balance to support ongoing operations, projects budget surpluses within five years that can be used to address the needs of county government and its residents, and utilizes revenue projections that account for changing economic conditions.

The adopted general fund budgets for fiscals 2023-2025 are $509.5 million, $516.5 million, and $527.9 million, respectively. The total budgets for all funds for fiscals 2023-2025 are $1.0129 billion, $1.0206 billion, and $1.0320 billion, respectively. It includes $7 million in appropriations from American Recover Plan (ARP) revenue to pay for direct county COVID response costs in fiscal 2023, but otherwise excludes ARP funds so that investments supported by those dollars can be specifically reviewed and approved by the Board of Commissioners.

Original source can be found here.