September 29, 2022
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
I’m excited to report that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved my three-year balanced budget earlier today with broad bipartisan support.
It’s a plan that invests in Oakland County residents, businesses and employees to ensure that all have access to the tools that are needed to succeed and thrive.
It’s important to note that the $1 billion budget is a true spending plan that eliminates the planned use of our fund balance to support ongoing operations, includes budget surpluses that can be used to help weather economic challenges in the future and allows us to maintain our prized AAA bond rating.
Those are the really positive, financially responsible messages from the fiscal plan. But this budget is also people-focused and makes key investments, including:
- An older adult advocate to help improve and expand services to our older residents.
- Support for public safety through recruitment and retention bonuses for our law enforcement officers and funding for a Public Defender’s Office to ensure that all residents have access to quality legal representation.
- A continuation and increase in the local road program that provides $4 million in matching funds for local road improvement projects.
- An environmental sustainability plan for the county government campus that will help us get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Increased investments in affordable housing, healthcare, and significant investments to provide access to mental health care for residents and students.
- Continued support and expansion of the Business Forward team that is providing counseling and coaching to thousands of small business owners in the county.
- The Oakland80 Career and Education Navigator team, who are helping the county’s adult population overcome the barriers they might face in getting the education and training they need to chart a successful career path.
- Support for our employees with a 5 percent pay raise to help meet the financial challenges of a fluctuating economy.
The budget is transparent and accountable, with regular evaluations to ensure that our programs and services are inclusive and being offered in the best and most efficient manner. Those reviews of Key Performance Indicators, as well as the entire budget document, are available to you on the county’s website: oakgov.com
I’m proud and honored to work together with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to achieve a fiscal plan that can get support from both sides of the aisle.
One of my favorite quotes is an African proverb that has served me and many people so well. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, Go Together.” Today’s vote is a clear example of Oakland working together to be in All Ways, Moving Forward.
With gratitude,
Dave Coulter Oakland County Executive
SMART unveils electrified bus fleet
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter helped local officials and leadership of the SMART bus system unveil four new electrified buses that joined the fleet that provides millions of rides to residents in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb County each year.
“They’re clean, quiet and good for the environment,” Coulter said. “That’s a winning combination and the future of mobility.”
Oakland County is leaning into the electrification movement, from the $4 billion investment that General Motors announced earlier this year to build electric vehicles at the Orion plant, to the county being named the sole North American site for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
The new SMART buses are another example of the federal, state and local governments working together for the greater good.
The federal government provided the funding for these buses and DDOT and SMART collaborated to jointly procure the vehicles.
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