Washtenaw County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Washtenaw County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Federal formula grants for human services
HUD will honor current homelessness funding agreements — roughly $4 million starting in October — but future structural cuts are coming. Commissioner LaBarre proposed a board working group to prepare.
Older Persons millage implementation
The county approved single-reading contracts to continue funding older persons millage transportation and expanded senior nutrition programs.
2026 County Millage Rate
The board set the 2026 county property tax rate at 7.3230 mills and scheduled a public hearing on the rate.
Sustaining human services funding after NHSP expires
The New Human Services Partnership — $15.2 million over five years, shared with the City of Ann Arbor — sunsets June 30, 2027, and commissioners are trying to figure out what replaces it. This affects dozens of nonprofits and thousands of residents who rely on food, housing, and health services funding.
Community Priority Fund outcomes and possible CPF 2.0
The ARPA-funded Community Priority Fund delivered measurable results across five areas — rent help, violence intervention, housing, child care, and literacy — but ended when the money did. Evaluators and the equity office urged commissioners to consider a successor fund with lump-sum payments and streamlined reporting.