Washtenaw County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Washtenaw County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Local Election Results
The local election results are in, and the winners are now set to make decisions on Washtenaw County roads, budgets, and services. If you live here, this is the crew deciding how your tax dollars get spent and what gets fixed first.
Law enforcement response to mental health crises
Residents pressed the board on how deputies handle mental health crises, calling for better crisis response.
Proposed GFL landfill and Arbor Hills concerns
A Salem Township new property owner pushed back on the proposed Arbor Hills landfill expansion, arguing the state has 20+ years of existing landfill capacity and asking the county for a real alternative plan.
Public Power Ballot Proposal
Ann Arbor voters narrowly rejected creating a city-owned electric utility, so the incumbent utility keeps control of the grid for now. Supporters say they’re not done, meaning the fight over energy bills and who runs the system could come back. If you care about power costs and local control, this issue isn’t going away.
Drinking water contamination threats
A Webster Township resident warned that the dioxane plume is creeping toward the Huron River, Ann Arbor's drinking water source, and that herbicides are entering the chain of lakes.
Prop E utility municipalization vote
Ann Arbor voters rejected Prop E, so DTE keeps the city’s electricity business and the public-power takeover is off the table for now. The rate-and-reliability fight isn’t over—it just moves back to the usual regulatory and political channels.
District 8 Commissioner Vacancy Appointment Process
Following Commissioner Rabhi's election as mayor of Ann Arbor, the board established a transparent, ranked-choice voting appointment process to fill his upcoming vacancy without triggering a costly special election.
Barrier busters municipal contributions
Commissioners asked for a breakdown of which local municipalities contribute to barrier busters and at what level. Ypsilanti Township's contributions (ARPA-funded) ended in 2025, and staff will report on cost recovery percentages.
Healthcare Access Response
The county approved a $1.5 million healthcare access response proposal to fund new health department and Washtenaw Health Project positions, helping residents navigate coverage losses and healthcare costs.
2027-2030 Quadrennial Budget adopted
Chief Financial Officer presented the recommended quadrennial budget, focusing on stabilizing 2027 operations amidst economic uncertainties and funding key board priorities.
Brownfield redevelopment in Ann Arbor
The board debated and approved brownfield plan amendments for the AC Hotel on E. Huron Street and the Village of Ann Arbor housing project, facing resident pushback over natural gas heating and tax capture.
Sheriff road patrol funding
The sheriff's grant funds two deputies who cover rural areas without police service and handle serious crash investigations. Commissioners raised equity questions about coverage for uncontracted townships and privacy concerns about the traffic-data platform used for enforcement targeting.
Rising employee health insurance costs
Health insurance claims keep climbing, and filled positions have tripled since 2022. If trends continue, the county could need $12.5 million more per year by 2030 — which the CFO warned 'will break programs.'
General Election Results
Washtenaw County’s 2026 general election results are rolling in, and they’ll decide who leads the county plus which local ballot measures pass. If you care about county government or local rules and spending, this is the outcome to watch.
Election Day Voter Information
Election Day is Tuesday in Washtenaw County, and voters need to know where and how to cast their ballots. Local races and ballot measures are on the line, and they can shape county services.
Countywide Free Fare Elections Pilot Program
The county approved a free transit fare program for election day, ensuring that lack of transportation does not stop anyone from voting.
East Side Homeless Shelter at Arnett Street
A $30,000 sponsorship of a homelessness fundraiser sparked debate over whether sponsorships should be budgeted or awarded by RFP. Comm. Sanders argued the money could fund a poverty simulation or direct housing instead.
Draft Board Rules Changes
A Ypsilanti Township resident asked the board to shorten its own debate time rather than shrink public comment, and commissioners traded views on restructuring comment periods.
Saline Township solar project host agreement
The county will receive a one-time $300,000 payment for hosting a 150-megawatt solar farm, directed to a new Community Energy Fund. Comm. Lyte asked whether the payment could be negotiated as annual instead.
Federal HUD funding instability
Federal HUD changes threaten up to $3 million in permanent supportive and rapid rehousing funding, with a $432,000 immediate gap starting April. County staff and providers asked the county to lead a bridge-funding response; commissioners signaled support but no vote was taken.
Contract policing methodology and cost
The county has 82 authorized police service units serving 12 contract partners, but the 20-year-old pricing methodology breaks down when applied to actual costs. An RFP is out for a consultant to review it, with selection targeted for Q4 2026 — commissioners want full cost breakdowns including healthcare, which the county has been subsidizing.
Sheriff's Office conduct complaints
A Ypsilanti Township resident detailed ongoing disputes with the sheriff's office and prosecutor's office, including confiscated property. Commissioners noted the sheriff is independently elected and urged direct engagement.
Data center tax revenue uncertainty
The board reversed course, withdrawing its resolution welcoming U-M's computing center at Willow Run after learning U-M closed on the Textile Road site, and instead voted to support local data center moratoriums. Residents from Ypsilanti Township opposed the project over neighborhood impacts, militarization concerns, and safety.
Health millage replacement funding gap
Commissioners are weighing a 0.2-mill, three-year healthcare millage to backfill the Washtenaw Health Plan and public health programs hit by federal cuts. Critics say residents are millage-fatigued and many taxpayers wouldn't be eligible for the services; supporters call it an emergency response for people losing coverage.
County administrator selection
A Pittsfield Township social worker questioned whether Interim Administrator Derrick Jackson should get the permanent job, citing his failed sheriff's race and ethics concerns. Commissioners pushed back, with Somerville noting he came close to winning and has 20+ years of county leadership.
Saline data center wastewater discharge permit
Residents are urging the county to oppose the Saline data center's permit to discharge treated wastewater into the Saline River, ahead of EGLE's October 21 virtual hearing. Commissioners Beeman and Rabhi said the board will send a formal comment letter.
AFSCME 3052 2026 compensation agreement
County workers in AFSCME 3052 have a tentative 2026 compensation deal that the board approved.
PA 152 health care cost exemption
The board chose the 'exemption' option for 2027, letting the county pay health care costs above the state cap rather than capping them, and ratified the labor coalition's health insurance deal.
Living wage exemption for mental health providers
The county would exempt certain Community Mental Health contracted service providers from its living wage ordinance for the coming fiscal year.
Land records portal access fee
A new $50 24-hour subscription would let title searchers and others access county land records online for short periods instead of paying $600 for a week.
Waseem v. Washtenaw County settlement
A negotiated settlement in a lawsuit against the county was on the agenda for approval, with details discussed in open session and related litigation in closed session.
Recycling and composting grants
Two small state grants — $7,500 for recycling education and $5,000 to expand composting — were up for acceptance, plus an extension of the county's fiduciary role for the regional recycling authority.
Senior nutrition program millage funding
Partners currently get reimbursed at wildly different rates, which staff call inequitable. The proposal: a flat $5 per meal for partners using the county caterer (which costs the county $7.50, about $12.50 total) and $10 per meal for the two large Meals on Wheels organizations that run their own catering and assessments.
Commissioner flex accounts, mileage, and travel
Rules proposals would let flex accounts pay for event sponsorships and memberships — Rabhi wants tighter controls to prevent money flowing to commissioners' pet political organizations. Sanders argued commissioners shouldn't have to eat mileage costs for board service and pushed for a fairer travel account system.
Animal Control Services Funding Deficit
Commissioners raised ongoing questions about animal control spending and municipal contributions to the Humane Society contract. Discussion touched on potential cat licensing and fee structures to recover costs.
Community Mental Health funding
The board approved a $156.5 million operating budget for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget includes position reclassifications, creations, and eliminations to support mental health services.
Delinquent tax surplus shortfall in the county budget
CFO Catherine Jones-Alther presented the Q2 budget update, projecting a $4.3 million general fund shortfall that is largely covered by planned fund balance use. Commissioners discussed various expenditure increases, including legal fees, jail food/medical costs, and overtime.
Health Department nurse and social worker recruitment crisis
Commissioners pressed Health Department staff on why the county can't fill nurse and social worker jobs — compensation is the core problem, with hospital systems paying far more. Commissioner Sanders asked staff to add net position-change figures to future budget reports.
CLEMIS records system transition
The county is leaving Oakland County's CLEMIS arrangement for a new CLEMIS Authority Board, keeping the shared records system that serves the Sheriff, Prosecutor, Public Defender, and courts. The county administrator becomes the county's appointee.
$1.6M TAP trail grant for Eastern Washtenaw Recreation Center
After years of waiting, east-side residents finally saw real movement: an $18M borrowing intent passed unanimously and the board reaffirmed the project as a top priority. The 65,000-sq-ft center with a pool, gym, and community space is targeted to open January 2028.
Community Corrections Comprehensive Plan
The board ratified the Sheriff's Office $3.14 million community corrections plan for next year, mixing an $850,000 state grant with local General Fund, millage, and fee dollars. It funds alternatives and services within the criminal legal system.
ICE enforcement activity in Washtenaw County
Nearly a dozen speakers urged the board to keep fighting the federal lawsuit over its ICE-free zone policy, including the children of a detained Ypsilanti father. Commissioners across the board pledged to stand firm, calling the lawsuit a badge of honor.
Board honors Terrence Williams and Brady Peck
The board said goodbye to two beloved county leaders: Terrence Williams (14 years, including the Racial Equity Office and county administration) and Brady Peck (Director of Operations). Both passed 9-0.
Washtenaw County Bicentennial
Administrator Jackson reported on the Legacy Project, in which eight county-connected people self-funded a trip to Ghana to visit slave dungeons as part of the racial equity blueprint. Fundraising is underway to send a second cohort of young people next year.
Health Department budgets and grant funding
The board approved the Health Department's $22.5 million final budget for this year and a $20.9 million agreement with the state for next year, plus a federal grant application worth up to $2 million over four years for maternal and child health. Commissioners also discussed chronic difficulty hiring and keeping public health nurses and social workers because county pay lags health systems.
Washtenaw Equity Partnership implementation
The WEP's 65 recommendations to address racial disparities in the county's criminal legal system have been stalled since 2024. CREW wants the county to hire a dedicated implementation manager, and Administrator Jackson says there's momentum to do it.
E-911 dispatch surcharge increase
The Sheriff's proposal to raise the 43-cent 911 surcharge (unchanged since 2013) and put it on the November ballot failed 4-5 after fire chiefs and township leaders asked for shared governance and more planning time.
Woodlawn Cemetery Historic Designation
Woodlawn is the county's only known historically African American cemetery, established during segregation, and the AACHM is restoring it in phases. Volunteers have identified 293 burials, but the site floods every spring and needs drainage help, road work, and legal clarity on ownership. Commissioners floated possible parks staff help and even potential contributions from entities tied to the racial covenants that helped doom the cemetery.
Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
The Board unanimously appointed members to the committee that will guide how opioid settlement funds are spent countywide.
Healthcare millage for November 2026 ballot
Multiple residents urged the board to put a healthcare millage on the November 2026 ballot to counter federal Medicaid cuts that could strip coverage from 15,000–18,000 county residents. The board took no vote yet, but the idea drew broad support from community advocates, the Shelter Association, and United Way.