Washtenaw County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Washtenaw County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
Older Persons millage implementation
The county approved single-reading contracts to continue funding older persons millage transportation and expanded senior nutrition programs.
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.
Sycamore Meadows sewage crisis
Raw sewage backups at a 262-unit subsidized Superior Township apartment complex displaced families; the county hired a contractor to clear the sewer system and temporarily housed affected families, while HUD and Congressman Dingman's office are engaged.
Community violence intervention funding gap
Leaders of Supreme Felons Inc. told the board their grant-funded violence intervention work has run out of money, saying violence is ticking back up in Ypsilanti-area neighborhoods. Commissioner Hodge acknowledged the funding lapse and said the county is exploring ways to sustain the work.
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.
Road millage spending and transparency
Multiple residents voiced intense frustration and safety concerns regarding the Washtenaw County Road Commission's tree removal practices, particularly on Werkner Road, with calls for increased board oversight or municipal absorption of road operations.
Workforce development funding and demand
Michigan Works! Southeast is seeing a 25% jump in people seeking jobs while facing flat or reduced funding, including a 42% cut to the Going Pro Talent Fund. New SNAP and Medicaid work requirements starting January 1 could bring hundreds or thousands more people to their doors.
Supreme Felons funding gap
Leaders of Supreme Felons Inc. told the board their grant-funded violence intervention work has run out of money, saying violence is ticking back up in Ypsilanti-area neighborhoods. Commissioner Hodge acknowledged the funding lapse and said the county is exploring ways to sustain the work.
Rising food insecurity and SNAP changes
The Food Policy Council reported food insecurity rising a couple of percent and warned that federal data collection is ending, making SNAP-cut effects harder to track. The council also supports free school lunches and medically tailored meal programs.
Sheriff's office grants, budgets and accountability
Commissioners grilled the sheriff's office on two traffic grants cut by a combined ~$275,000, worried about general fund shortfalls and unequal enforcement. The road patrol grant got tabled; the strategic enforcement grant squeaked through 7-2. Separate public comment criticized the fatal Prospect Road shooting and Cross Street SWAT operation.
Conditions at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Advocate Trische Duckworth reported a pattern of sepsis deaths among incarcerated women and asked commissioners to use FOIA powers to obtain death records; commissioners thanked her and pledged continued attention.
Materials Management Plan funding gap
The county's recycling and toxics programs run on landfill money, and Commissioner Eggermont says it would take $1.25 million a year to keep them going without it — plus up to $1 million more for new plan goals like education. The board has to figure out a funding path as the state-mandated planning process moves forward.
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.
Proof-of-citizenship voting ballot proposal
The board unanimously opposed a circulating ballot petition that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Supporters said it would disenfranchise married women, students, seniors, and low-income voters; a few residents argued it protects election integrity.