Oakland County Board of Commissioners Passes Budget
(Oakland County, Oct. 1, 2022)
With broad bipartisan support, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved the triennial county budget for fiscal years 2023-2025, which includes more than $1 billion for fiscal year 2023, during its September 29 meeting.
“This budget improves public health, strengthens our local economy, protects our environment and increases economic opportunity for all working families, seniors and children,” Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) said. “Together, we adopted a budget that reflects our county’s values and priorities, and all residents can be proud.”
Adoption of the FY 2023 balanced budget follows an extensive, collaborative and bipartisan effort. The three-year budget was first proposed by County Executive David Coulter to the Board of Commissioners on July 1, 2022. Following this proposal, the Finance Committee conducted an in-depth review of the plan and hosted 22 budget hearings with county department leaders.
The adopted budget includes:
- millions of dollars in new road funding for local and county roads
- the creation of a new senior advocate position and fund for new senior initiatives
- increased funding to support the development of new affordable housing and emergency shelter capacity efforts
- business consultant support to local small businesses
- funding to expand efforts to address physical and mental health needs of families and children.
- funding to create the new U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Center in Oakland County, which will grow and attract local manufacturing, create jobs and make things in America
- increased funding for environmental and sustainability efforts to further the county’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030
“Oakland County is in an excellent financial position and brings forward a balanced budget that supports our residents and businesses in the coming year,” Commissioner Gwen Markham (D-Novi), who chairs the Finance Committee, said. “The commissioners look to a future of robust small business support, environmental sustainability, and improved healthcare services throughout our county. I want to especially thank the members of the Finance Committee and Board staff who spent most of the summer providing oversight as the budget was finalized. Their work is much appreciated.”
The total budget funds for 2023, 2024 and 2025 are $1.0129 billion, $1.0206 billion and $1.0320 billion, respectively.
“The Board of Commissioners continues to work together in support of a 2023 balanced county budget,” Minority Caucus Chair Michael Spisz (R-Oxford) said. “Being good stewards of taxpayer money is very important in continuing a long-standing Oakland County tradition of a three-year balanced budget. We must, of course, continue to watch spending with the unknown longer-term effects to the economy and inflation.”
With the 2023-2025 budget, the county prioritizes investments in public health, public safety and environmental sustainability. In addition, it aims to ensure economic prosperity for all Oakland County working families, seniors and children, and preserve the county’s AAA bond rating.
For more information about the Board of Commissioners, please visit www.oakgov.com/boc or call 248-858-0100.
