Oakland County Executive David Coulter presented his balanced, three-year budget recommendation for fiscal years 2026-2028 to the Board of Commissioners last Thursday evening, outlining a disciplined and sustainable plan that prioritizes investments in public health, safety, housing and the county workforce.
“This budget reinforces our commitment to investing in our people while maintaining our strong reputation for fiscal discipline,” Coulter said. “It is structurally balanced and sustainable, and it preserves our healthy fund balance for future emergency needs.”
His proposed budget, which invests in people while maintaining the county’s reputation for fiscal excellence, includes critical enhancements to county services while safeguarding Oakland County’s AAA bond rating.
Key investments in the recommended budget include:
—Public Health:
• An increase of $300,000 in the county’s vaccine budget to respond to rising demand amid communicable disease outbreaks such as measles.
• Equipment upgrades at the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, including a new veterinary multiparameter monitor, centrifuge and ultrasound machine.
—Public Safety:
• Protective vest replacements for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension and Narcotics Enforcement Teams.
—Housing and Human Services:
• Continued investment in affordable housing through the Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, launched in 2024, which has helped develop more than 700 units of affordable, accessible housing.
• Support for Oakland Connects, which links residents to housing, food and social services, and expanded language translation access across county platforms and services.
—Workforce Investment:
• A proposed salary increase for non-represented employees of four percent in FY 2026, followed by three percent increases in FY 2027 and FY 2028, to help attract and retain skilled employees.
• It also sustains the wages and robust benefits package reached through collective bargaining with union-represented employees.
The budget also reaffirms funding for programs that have shown measurable success such as Oakland80, which has helped more than 8,000 residents access
education and job training; Oakland Thrive and Project DIAMOnD, which support local small businesses and manufacturers; and debt relief initiatives such as Undue Medical Debt and Savi, easing financial burdens on residents.
“We’re also not immune from the effects of the national and global economy,” Coulter said. “But that’s why it’s even more important for us to continue to provide the services that our residents and businesses need to grow and succeed. Working together, we’ve wisely used federal, state and county funds to create transformational initiatives that have helped our residents, businesses, communities and non-profits.”
This budget is balanced and does not include any withdrawals from the fund balance for ongoing operations. The county executive’s general fund budget recommendation is $560.4 million for FY 2026, $574.6 million for FY 2027 and $588.5 million for FY 2028. His total proposed budget is $1.08 billion for FY 2026, $1.11 billion for FY 2027 and $1.13 billion for FY 2028.
The Board of Commissioners will begin budget hearings the first week in August. The full board will vote on the budget on September 18. FY 2026 begins October 1.
“This budget reinforces our commitment to investing in our people while maintaining our strong reputation for fiscal discipline,” Coulter said. “It is structurally balanced and sustainable, and it preserves our healthy fund balance for future emergency needs.”
His proposed budget, which invests in people while maintaining the county’s reputation for fiscal excellence, includes critical enhancements to county services while safeguarding Oakland County’s AAA bond rating.
Key investments in the recommended budget include:
—Public Health:
• An increase of $300,000 in the county’s vaccine budget to respond to rising demand amid communicable disease outbreaks such as measles.
• Equipment upgrades at the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, including a new veterinary multiparameter monitor, centrifuge and ultrasound machine.
—Public Safety:
• Protective vest replacements for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension and Narcotics Enforcement Teams.
—Housing and Human Services:
• Continued investment in affordable housing through the Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, launched in 2024, which has helped develop more than 700 units of affordable, accessible housing.
• Support for Oakland Connects, which links residents to housing, food and social services, and expanded language translation access across county platforms and services.
—Workforce Investment:
• A proposed salary increase for non-represented employees of four percent in FY 2026, followed by three percent increases in FY 2027 and FY 2028, to help attract and retain skilled employees.
• It also sustains the wages and robust benefits package reached through collective bargaining with union-represented employees.
The budget also reaffirms funding for programs that have shown measurable success such as Oakland80, which has helped more than 8,000 residents access
education and job training; Oakland Thrive and Project DIAMOnD, which support local small businesses and manufacturers; and debt relief initiatives such as Undue Medical Debt and Savi, easing financial burdens on residents.
“We’re also not immune from the effects of the national and global economy,” Coulter said. “But that’s why it’s even more important for us to continue to provide the services that our residents and businesses need to grow and succeed. Working together, we’ve wisely used federal, state and county funds to create transformational initiatives that have helped our residents, businesses, communities and non-profits.”
This budget is balanced and does not include any withdrawals from the fund balance for ongoing operations. The county executive’s general fund budget recommendation is $560.4 million for FY 2026, $574.6 million for FY 2027 and $588.5 million for FY 2028. His total proposed budget is $1.08 billion for FY 2026, $1.11 billion for FY 2027 and $1.13 billion for FY 2028.
The Board of Commissioners will begin budget hearings the first week in August. The full board will vote on the budget on September 18. FY 2026 begins October 1.
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