County Commissioner, District 4· 2025-01-01 to 2028-12-31 (per MCL 46.410 subsection 2, text read: 4-year term begins January 1 following the 2024 election; current-term start, first-office day unsourced; end December 31, 2028)
Caroline Sanders
Washtenaw County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 23
- Total speaking time
- 6:17:02
- Avg per meeting
- 16:24
- Segments
- 4194
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Top issues during term (20)
2027-2030 Quadrennial Budget adopted
Establishes an operating budget of $180.4 million for 2027, growing to $192.3 million by 2030.
Healthcare Access Response
Allocates $1,529,077 in one-time funding for healthcare access and staffing.
Brownfield redevelopment in Ann Arbor
Increases tax increment financing and tax revenue capture for downtown development projects.
Proposed GFL landfill and Arbor Hills concerns
Salem Township reportedly receives about $3.2 million in landfill revenue annually, while neighboring Wayne County communities bear odor and health burdens.
Draft Board Rules Changes
The proposal would raise each commissioner's travel and sponsorship allowance to $10,000 each, up from a combined $7,000 travel allotment.
East Side Homeless Shelter at Arnett Street
$30,000 county expenditure for the event sponsorship.
Sheriff road patrol funding
A $326,284 state grant, down $109,622 from last year, with any shortfall covered by the sheriff's general fund.
Drinking water contamination threats
Roughly $2 million in grant funding pursued with minimal county match.
Countywide Free Fare Elections Pilot Program
Absorbs transit fare costs for voters on election day through local partnership agreements.
Saline data center wastewater discharge permit
Cleanup costs from any pollution accident could fall on taxpayers, as residents argued happened with the Gelman site.
Sheriff's Office conduct complaints
The county pays civil settlements from the sheriff's office's mistakes out of county funds.
Law enforcement response to mental health crises
E-911 dispatch surcharge increase
Would raise the 911 surcharge from 43 cents, funding dispatch upgrades and mental health triage.
Proof-of-citizenship voting ballot proposal
Opponents noted replacing documents can cost $100-$165; the petition itself proposes state-funded hardship assistance.
$1.6M TAP trail grant for Eastern Washtenaw Recreation Center
Up to $18 million in new county borrowing, with the debt payment source still being worked out internally.
Rising employee health insurance costs
Potentially $12.5 million in additional structural annual costs by 2030 if trends hold.
Barrier busters municipal contributions
Senior nutrition program millage funding
Roughly a 9% meal increase across partners is projected under the proposed $3.5 million combined funding package.
District 8 Commissioner Vacancy Appointment Process
Saves the county the cost of holding a special election.
Community Mental Health funding
Total operating budget of $156,569,251.
Decisions during term (319)
Recorded while Sanders was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
A resolution to set a public hearing on the 2027-2030 Quadrennial Budget
Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting October 21, 2026
October 21, 2026 Working Session Minutes
A resolution to authorize a community development service contract between Washtenaw County and the City of Ann Arbor
A resolution to ratify the submission of a grant application through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund 2026
A resolution to ratify the submission of a grant application to the EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
A resolution to adopt the 2027-2030 Quadrennial Budget
A resolution approving the tentative agreement with COAM, Washtenaw County, and the Sheriff's Office
A resolution authorizing the receipt of $25,000 from NOAA
A resolution ratifying the signature of the Interim County Administrator on a grant application with the Michigan Bureau of Elections
A resolution authorizing the Secondary Road Patrol and Traffic Accident Program Grant
A resolution to adopt the Brownfield Plan Amendment for 300-312 E. Huron St
A resolution to adopt the Brownfield Plan amendment for the Village of Ann Arbor Brownfield Project
A resolution to accept and approve a proposal for the Healthcare Access Response from Administration
A resolution adopting the 2027 Board of Commissioners calendar
A resolution ratifying the application for the 2027 Remonumentation grant
A Resolution Recognizing Community Voices For Health Equity For 10 Years Of Distinguished Community Service And Partnership
A resolution amending the Board of Commissioners 2026 Annual Calendar of Meetings
A resolution honoring Angie Combs for twenty years of service to Washtenaw County and celebrating her retirement
A resolution authorizing the payment of claims commencing with the last previously approved claim and continuing through October 26, 2026
Voting record (69)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Resolution to Adopt the Brownfield Plan Amendment for 300-312 E. Huron St
Expressed concerns regarding hotel capacity and project details.
Set public hearing — Village of Ann Arbor Brownfield Plan Amendment #1
A Resolution to Adopt the "Exemption" Option Regarding Expected Health Care Costs Above the 2027 Limitation as Established in PA 152 of 2011 and Ratifying a Tentative Agreement Regarding Health Insura
New $50 24-hour subscription for online land records portal
$30,000 Gimme Shelter event sponsorship
PA 152 health care 'exemption' option and health insurance ratification
to adjourn this item to the October 7, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting
that A Resolution Authorizing an Exemption to the County's Living Wage Ordinance for Certain Community Mental Health Service Providers from Administration be approved
Resolution Requesting Authorization of Health Grant Application (26-157)
Resolution Approving Health Department Final Budget (26-158)
Resolution Authorizing Health Department Comprehensive Agreement (26-159)
Resolution Amending FY25/26 Community Mental Health Budget (26-160)
Resolution Approving Community Mental Health 2026/2027 Operating Budget (26-161)
Resolution Ratifying Community Corrections Comprehensive Plan (26-162)
Resolution Authorizing Living Wage Exemption for CMH Service Providers (26-163)
Voted in protest against paying workers a pittance.
Resolution Accepting Michigan Recycling Coalition Grant (26-164)
Resolution Accepting Nextcycle Harvest Grant Award (26-165)
Resolution Extending Term as Fiduciary for WRRMA (26-166)
Resolution Allocating Additional Older Persons Millage Funds (26-167)
Resolution Approving Negotiated Settlement in Talal Waseem v. Washtenaw County et al. (26-168)
Resolution Recognizing International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day (26-169)
Resolution Authorizing Payment of Claims (26-170)
to amend the resolution to increase the proposed millage amount from 0.2 mil to 0.25 mil with the additional amount being used to equalize the amount received by the Washtenaw Health Plan and the Heal
a Resolution to Submit to the Electorate a Millage Question authorizing funding for Healthcare Access on the November 3, 2026, ballot and certifying ballot language be approved
Resolution to Submit Healthcare Access Millage to Electorate
amend the resolution to include a section that would direct County Administration to provide recommendations on how to remove 0.2 mills from other millages to make the tax impact neutral
adjourn this item to the August 5, 2026 meeting
2026-2027 Annual Action Plan for HUD (final reading)
$18 million Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2026
$1 million state infrastructure grant for road improvements
Aging Program Administrator position created
Remaining single-reading resolutions, including $92,000 youth summer allocations and Q1 budget adjustments
Closed session on DOJ v. Washtenaw litigation
call the question
approve a resolution adopting the Arbor South Redevelopment Brownfield Plan in Ann Arbor, MI, from the Office of Community and Economic Development
Arbor South Redevelopment Brownfield Plan
Raised concerns regarding lack of regional equity, impacts on schools, and insufficient community outreach.
Postpone Arbor South Redevelopment Brownfield Plan
Resolution setting public hearing for 2026-27 Urban County Annual Action Plan
a resolution adopting the Arbor South Redevelopment Brownfield Plan in Ann Arbor, MI, from the Office of Community and Economic Development be approved
Resolution of Intent to borrow up to $18M for Eastern Washtenaw Recreation Center
First reading: Arbor South Redevelopment Brownfield Plan adoption
Work from Home Policy adjourned to May 6
DDA tax capture opt-out (Item F)
Honoring Melvin Parsons and Proclamation Resolutions
Exempt County Taxes from Ann Arbor DDA Expansion Capture
Noted her vote was specific to this expansion and not a blanket position on all DDAs.
Support State Legislative Action for Fiscal Accountability
that a resolution authorizing the Strategic Traffic Enforcement grant from the Sheriff's Office be approved.
Townie Homes Brownfield Plan adopted (R 26-030)
Transformational Brownfield Plan, 350 S. Fifth adopted (R 26-031)
Strategic Traffic Enforcement grant approved 7-2 (R 26-032)
Concerns about enforcement targeting and use of funds amid department deficits