Washtenaw County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Washtenaw County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cost-Sharing Equity for Small Communities
Ypsilanti's city manager warned that the proposed ~$80,000 cost-share equals nearly a full-time employee for a small city with a third of its property tax-exempt. Commissioners debated whether the formula should account for communities' taxable base and staff capacity.
County Work from Home policy
A county parks employee flagged that the new remote-work policy creates a two-tier workforce — office staff stay home while frontline workers commute and use PTO for snow days. The board put the policy off to May 6 instead of passing it.
Ann Arbor DDA Tax Capture Expansion
The board voted to keep county tax dollars out of the Ann Arbor DDA's proposed expansion, meaning roughly the taxes that fund county services won't be diverted to the unelected DDA board. Critics of the opt-out warned it could strain city-county partnerships; supporters said voters' dollars should be spent by elected officials.
Nonprofit financial review and accountability
75% of commissioners supported requiring a financial check of grantees before money goes out — verifying nonprofits can actually deliver the services they're funded for. Debate centered on whether that means a designated staff person or a standardized checklist process.
Centralized visibility of county funding
Right now no single place shows all the human services dollars flowing out of county departments — OCED, Public Health, CMH, the Racial Equity Office and others each fund separately. Commissioners want one clear picture so they (and the public) can see who gets what and cut duplication.
County Labor Agreements for 2026-2027
The board approved new compensation agreements with AFSCME 2733 and the Michigan Nurses Association, covering county workers' 2026 (and 2027 for nurses) pay.