Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter presented his recommended budget for fiscal years 2025-2027 to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners last Thursday. Coulter proposed a balanced budget that not only makes significant investments in safer and healthier communities by launching new community-based programs, but also funds established programs such as Oakland80 and the Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund.
“We are committed in Oakland County to making a real and measurable impact in the areas that matter most: a strong economy, health and safe residents and communities, and opportunities for residents to live their best lives,” Coulter said.
This budget marks the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Oakland County is poised, however, to continue to deliver services to residents and address any challenges that lie ahead because its economy has fully recovered from COVID according to University of Michigan economists, retains a AAA bond rating, and has healthy financial reserves.
“This budget recognizes the significant role we can play in keeping our residents healthy by offering services where they are, rather than waiting for them to come to us. It also addresses ways law enforcement can help keep us safe, including the ongoing multi-million-dollar investment to upgrade the county‘s public radio safety system.” Coulter said.
Along with ongoing day-to-day services in clinics and specialty programming, the county recently collaborated with the state, Honor Health and the Oakland Community Health Network to create an integrated urgent care center in Pontiac. The facility provides primary care and emergency mental health services, to help patients in crisis, regardless of their ability to pay.
It also has allocated $1.7 million for programs to support healthy residents, including paying for:
• Community health workers to connect people to resources in communities where residents typically have a mistrust of medical and government professionals.
• Nurses who will do case management in homes of children with elevated lead levels in their blood.
• Environmental health staff who will work with the nurses to determine the source of lead in a home, which can range from the obvious culprit – paint – to the unexpected sources, such as cooking spices and makeup.
Coulter’s budget recommendation also expects to help the county to attract and retain employees with a proposed general salary increase of 2.4 percent.
“At the heart of our success are the skilled and dedicated workers who are truly passionate about public service,” he said. “We are also committed to providing a robust benefits package that includes an Employee Assistance Program that offers 24/7 counseling services and in-person sessions after critical incidents.”
Coulter proposed a budget that he views as lean, fiscally responsible and balanced. It does not include any withdrawals from the $236 million fund balance for ongoing operations. It calls for $560.4 million in General Fund/General Purpose spending for FY 2025, $574.6 million for FY 2026 and $588.5 million for FY 2027. The total budget for all funds is $1.08 billion for FY 2025, $1.11 billion for FY 2026 and $1.13 billion for FY 2027. To view Coulter’s budget recommendation, visit www.oakgov.com/government/management-budget/fiscal-services.
“We are committed in Oakland County to making a real and measurable impact in the areas that matter most: a strong economy, health and safe residents and communities, and opportunities for residents to live their best lives,” Coulter said.
This budget marks the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Oakland County is poised, however, to continue to deliver services to residents and address any challenges that lie ahead because its economy has fully recovered from COVID according to University of Michigan economists, retains a AAA bond rating, and has healthy financial reserves.
“This budget recognizes the significant role we can play in keeping our residents healthy by offering services where they are, rather than waiting for them to come to us. It also addresses ways law enforcement can help keep us safe, including the ongoing multi-million-dollar investment to upgrade the county‘s public radio safety system.” Coulter said.
Along with ongoing day-to-day services in clinics and specialty programming, the county recently collaborated with the state, Honor Health and the Oakland Community Health Network to create an integrated urgent care center in Pontiac. The facility provides primary care and emergency mental health services, to help patients in crisis, regardless of their ability to pay.
It also has allocated $1.7 million for programs to support healthy residents, including paying for:
• Community health workers to connect people to resources in communities where residents typically have a mistrust of medical and government professionals.
• Nurses who will do case management in homes of children with elevated lead levels in their blood.
• Environmental health staff who will work with the nurses to determine the source of lead in a home, which can range from the obvious culprit – paint – to the unexpected sources, such as cooking spices and makeup.
Coulter’s budget recommendation also expects to help the county to attract and retain employees with a proposed general salary increase of 2.4 percent.
“At the heart of our success are the skilled and dedicated workers who are truly passionate about public service,” he said. “We are also committed to providing a robust benefits package that includes an Employee Assistance Program that offers 24/7 counseling services and in-person sessions after critical incidents.”
Coulter proposed a budget that he views as lean, fiscally responsible and balanced. It does not include any withdrawals from the $236 million fund balance for ongoing operations. It calls for $560.4 million in General Fund/General Purpose spending for FY 2025, $574.6 million for FY 2026 and $588.5 million for FY 2027. The total budget for all funds is $1.08 billion for FY 2025, $1.11 billion for FY 2026 and $1.13 billion for FY 2027. To view Coulter’s budget recommendation, visit www.oakgov.com/government/management-budget/fiscal-services.
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