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.
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.
Law enforcement response to mental health crises
Residents pressed the board on how deputies handle mental health crises, calling for better crisis response.
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.
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.
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.
AFSCME 3052 2026 compensation agreement
County workers in AFSCME 3052 have a tentative 2026 compensation deal that the board approved.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
The Board unanimously appointed members to the committee that will guide how opioid settlement funds are spent countywide.
Water Resources 2025 annual report
Driskell's office spent $2.5 million on drain maintenance, advanced the Bryer Dam removal with $3.5 million in state grants, and runs food-waste and school recycling pilots — funded mostly by parcel assessments, not general taxes.
Road Commission Stipend Increase Request
Road commission board members requested a stipend increase, arguing their pay has been stagnant for 23 years despite increased responsibilities.
County broadband expansion nears completion
The county's broadband gap-filling project has connected 7,152 of 7,734 target locations, aiming to make Washtenaw the first county in Michigan at 100% coverage. Mercury Broadband's default on its federal RDOF commitment left 416 locations in Bridgewater Township unbuilt, and completing that area could cost $2-3 million.
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.
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.
Werkner Road project and Road Commission concerns
Sylvan Township residents Norman and JoAnn Weber said the Road Commission is secretly widening their two-lane country road and cutting trees without justification; Maciejewski credited their advocacy for scaling the project back.
Delman plume EPA NPL listing
Commissioner Sanders reported the EPA is taking on the Gelman plume for its national priorities list — a first step in a years-long cleanup.
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.
Nondiscrimination in county-funded senior service contracts
Commissioners Scott and Sanders raised concerns about Catholic Charities' policies toward LGBTQ residents and staff and asked that nondiscrimination requirements be built into millage RFPs and county contracts with all service providers.
Sheriff's Office HR restructuring
The board rescinded its earlier transfer of Sheriff's Office HR administration to county HR and instead reassigned only the functions under Board authority — undoing part of a December reorganization.
Grant reviewer anonymity and Open Meetings Act limits
Recent Michigan court decisions may not allow anonymous volunteer grant reviewers for decisions the board makes. Commissioners clashed a bit — some want to protect volunteers from harassment, others (like Commissioner Rabhi) think public money should have public reviewers.
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.
SWAT Tactics and Reform
A Northfield Township resident described a 12-hour SWAT standoff at her home that destroyed property over a nonviolent refusal to exit; commissioners Somerville and Hodge pledged follow-up and continued questioning of sheriff's office tactics.
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.
Racial Equity Office blueprint and 2026 goals
The equity office laid out 13 programs — including the Mobile Support Services bus, a genealogy-based Legacy Project, and equity fellows — plus goals to codify resolution reviews and departmental equity plans. Commissioners pressed for more departments to join the liaison program.