America is encountering a period of tremendous technological and societal disruption and Oakland County is at the heart of this change. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter accentuated in his 2025 State of the County speech that his administration and other county leaders have embraced these challenges, creating a path forward that brings together people and builds up communities, standing in stark contrast to the current leadership in Washington, D.C.
“The stakes in our country have never seemed higher… Across the nation, some are encouraged by the direction we’re headed, while others – myself included - are deeply concerned,” Coulter said to an audience of more than 600 on Wednesday at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield.
Coulter contrasted the upheaval of the current presidential administration with Oakland County’s resolve and vision for addressing its most pressing issues with positive solutions that provide hope for the future.
“We’re riding this wave of disruption to a brighter future for Oakland County,” Coulter said. “But let me be very clear, I reject the disruption we see in the Trump administration because, quite frankly, it’s just simply destruction.”
Coulter emphasized that it’s possible for profound change to occur without chaos, to lift people up without tearing others down and to speak with clarity and strength without being mean and derogatory.
“Oakland County is in a stronger position today than it was 10 years ago. And, we have reached this point without drama or division,” Coulter said. “In Oakland County we haven’t shied away from these challenges. In fact, we’ve leaned into them. We’ve stretched beyond the normal role of county government because that is what the times demanded of us.”
The county is moving forward both because of the diversity of its residents and the Coulter Administration’s strategic plan that empowers people and places progress over partisanship.
Oakland County is “a county government that can work for all the people it serves. Where problems are addressed with thoughtful solutions. And, yes, where the diversity of our residents is seen as a strength,” Coulter said.
“But at the same time, we’re addressing the intractable problems, investing in the future and removing the burdens that hold residents back,” he said. “This didn’t just happen because we maintained the status quo or took a reactive posture. We created a strategic plan. We were proactive and we relied on our core principles – empowering people, putting progress over partisanship, and delivering a government that protects the tax dollars and works for the residents and businesses it serves.”
There is strong evidence that Oakland County is on the right path as it remains a powerhouse for growth and opportunity. Coulter highlighted some of the county’s strengths including its AAA bond rating, having the highest share of both the state’s gross domestic product and research and development among counties in Michigan and the highest per capita income of any county in the state.
The value of progress over partisanship is emblazoned across Oakland County’s progressive programs, which are measurably succeeding and propelling its residents and communities into the future.
Oakland Transit, countywide transportation services approved by voters in 2022, has seen ridership in West Oakland County increase by 60 percent and in Novi by 76 percent.
Oakland Connects, an extension of the county’s Health360 initiative, which provides a more accessible and holistic approach to health problems, started a new Integrated Care Clinic in Pontiac, providing physical and mental health care to people who are unsure of where to turn or have concerns about their ability to pay. Since the soft launch of the program last year, the clinic has provided care for more than 1,500 patients.
Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, improves the availability of affordable housing in the county by providing gap financing and incentive funding for nine housing projects, which will create 649 new affordable, accessible housing units.
Undue Medical Debt, purchases medical debt of Oakland County residents for pennies on the dollar then forgives it. Has already wiped out $9.1 million in medical bills for 14,000 Oakland County residents. With a $2 million investment from Oakland County, Undue Medical Debt is on track to wipe out as much as $200 million in medical debt for 80,000 residents.
Student Debt Relief, in partnership with Savi, a company dedicated to facilitating the student loan forgiveness process for borrowers, Oakland County is currently paying the $70 registration fee for residents to enroll in the program that helps them alleviate debt. So far, nearly 900 people burdened with more than $25.1 million in student loan debt have signed up. They’ve reduced their individual debt on average by more than $42,000 per person.
To take a deeper dive into all of Oakland County’s successes, read Coulter’s complete speech by navigating to oakgov.com/sotc, then clicking on the State of the County tab.
Reflecting on the ongoing success of his administration’s initiatives, Coulter explained why diversity, equity and inclusion remains interwoven into all the county does.
“When we think about these programs, or the role of government, it’s important that we understand this work is not a zero-sum game,” Coulter said. “I’m proud of the county’s effort to create a welcoming county, a diverse workforce and to address the historic bias and stereotypes in all that we do.”
This includes benefiting from immigration.
“The only reason the population of both Michigan and Oakland County grew in the last decade was that immigrants chose our great state to settle,” Coulter said. “These new residents are business owners, skilled workers, engineers and advanced technology experts who are fueling our growth.”
He summarized the common thread that ties everyone together.
“I believe there exists for all of us a common thread. It’s what binds us together from one generation to the next, from one group to the next, from one place in the world to the next. We’d do well to look for it, hold on to it, cherish it and respect each other for being part of our shared humanity. It’s a thread woven with love, understanding and the recognition that, despite our differences, we’re all part of something greater than ourselves.”
“The stakes in our country have never seemed higher… Across the nation, some are encouraged by the direction we’re headed, while others – myself included - are deeply concerned,” Coulter said to an audience of more than 600 on Wednesday at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield.
Coulter contrasted the upheaval of the current presidential administration with Oakland County’s resolve and vision for addressing its most pressing issues with positive solutions that provide hope for the future.
“We’re riding this wave of disruption to a brighter future for Oakland County,” Coulter said. “But let me be very clear, I reject the disruption we see in the Trump administration because, quite frankly, it’s just simply destruction.”
Coulter emphasized that it’s possible for profound change to occur without chaos, to lift people up without tearing others down and to speak with clarity and strength without being mean and derogatory.
“Oakland County is in a stronger position today than it was 10 years ago. And, we have reached this point without drama or division,” Coulter said. “In Oakland County we haven’t shied away from these challenges. In fact, we’ve leaned into them. We’ve stretched beyond the normal role of county government because that is what the times demanded of us.”
The county is moving forward both because of the diversity of its residents and the Coulter Administration’s strategic plan that empowers people and places progress over partisanship.
Oakland County is “a county government that can work for all the people it serves. Where problems are addressed with thoughtful solutions. And, yes, where the diversity of our residents is seen as a strength,” Coulter said.
“But at the same time, we’re addressing the intractable problems, investing in the future and removing the burdens that hold residents back,” he said. “This didn’t just happen because we maintained the status quo or took a reactive posture. We created a strategic plan. We were proactive and we relied on our core principles – empowering people, putting progress over partisanship, and delivering a government that protects the tax dollars and works for the residents and businesses it serves.”
There is strong evidence that Oakland County is on the right path as it remains a powerhouse for growth and opportunity. Coulter highlighted some of the county’s strengths including its AAA bond rating, having the highest share of both the state’s gross domestic product and research and development among counties in Michigan and the highest per capita income of any county in the state.
The value of progress over partisanship is emblazoned across Oakland County’s progressive programs, which are measurably succeeding and propelling its residents and communities into the future.
Oakland Transit, countywide transportation services approved by voters in 2022, has seen ridership in West Oakland County increase by 60 percent and in Novi by 76 percent.
Oakland Connects, an extension of the county’s Health360 initiative, which provides a more accessible and holistic approach to health problems, started a new Integrated Care Clinic in Pontiac, providing physical and mental health care to people who are unsure of where to turn or have concerns about their ability to pay. Since the soft launch of the program last year, the clinic has provided care for more than 1,500 patients.
Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, improves the availability of affordable housing in the county by providing gap financing and incentive funding for nine housing projects, which will create 649 new affordable, accessible housing units.
Undue Medical Debt, purchases medical debt of Oakland County residents for pennies on the dollar then forgives it. Has already wiped out $9.1 million in medical bills for 14,000 Oakland County residents. With a $2 million investment from Oakland County, Undue Medical Debt is on track to wipe out as much as $200 million in medical debt for 80,000 residents.
Student Debt Relief, in partnership with Savi, a company dedicated to facilitating the student loan forgiveness process for borrowers, Oakland County is currently paying the $70 registration fee for residents to enroll in the program that helps them alleviate debt. So far, nearly 900 people burdened with more than $25.1 million in student loan debt have signed up. They’ve reduced their individual debt on average by more than $42,000 per person.
To take a deeper dive into all of Oakland County’s successes, read Coulter’s complete speech by navigating to oakgov.com/sotc, then clicking on the State of the County tab.
Reflecting on the ongoing success of his administration’s initiatives, Coulter explained why diversity, equity and inclusion remains interwoven into all the county does.
“When we think about these programs, or the role of government, it’s important that we understand this work is not a zero-sum game,” Coulter said. “I’m proud of the county’s effort to create a welcoming county, a diverse workforce and to address the historic bias and stereotypes in all that we do.”
This includes benefiting from immigration.
“The only reason the population of both Michigan and Oakland County grew in the last decade was that immigrants chose our great state to settle,” Coulter said. “These new residents are business owners, skilled workers, engineers and advanced technology experts who are fueling our growth.”
He summarized the common thread that ties everyone together.
“I believe there exists for all of us a common thread. It’s what binds us together from one generation to the next, from one group to the next, from one place in the world to the next. We’d do well to look for it, hold on to it, cherish it and respect each other for being part of our shared humanity. It’s a thread woven with love, understanding and the recognition that, despite our differences, we’re all part of something greater than ourselves.”
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