Adoption of the FY 2023 balanced budget follows an extensive, collaborative and bipartisan effort. The three-year budget was first proposed by County Executive David Coulter to the Board of Commissioners on July 1, 2022.
The adopted budget includes millions of dollars in new road funding for local and county roads; the creation of a new senior advocate position and fund for new senior initiatives; increased funding to support the development of new affordable housing and emergency shelter capacity efforts; business consultant support to local small businesses; funding to expand efforts to address physical and mental health needs of families and children; funding to create the new U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Center in Oakland County, which will grow and attract local manufacturing, create jobs and make things in America; and increased funding for environmental and sustainability efforts to further the county’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
With the 2023-2025 budget, the county prioritizes investments in public health, public safety and environmental sustainability. In addition, it aims to ensure economic prosperity for all Oakland County working families, seniors and children, and preserve the county’s AAA bond rating.
The events will all take place on October 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:
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St. David’s Episcopal Church 16200 W. 12 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48076 Hosted by Lathrup Village and Southfield Police Departments
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Auburn Hills Police Department 1899 N. Squirrel Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Hosted by Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Township Police Departments
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Royal Oak Police Department 450 E. Eleven Mile Road Royal Oak, MI 48067 Hosted by Berkley and Royal Oak Police Departments
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Ferndale City Hall Parking Lot 300 E. Nine Mile Road Ferndale, Michigan 48220 Hosted by the Ferndale Police Department
Participants will receive generic Visa-type gift cards in exchange for the weapons. They will receive $100 in exchange for handguns, $200 for long guns and $300 for assault rifles. In addition, participants will be asked to provide identifying information when turning in firearms.
The Oakland County Gun Buyback Pilot Program is a part of the Board’s commitment to reducing violence in the community.
This survey of residents and business owners throughout Oakland County will help gather data that will assist in forming a plan to mitigate the impact of deer on the community.
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward, joined by educators, students, and community leaders, highlighted how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are bolstering the start of the new school year during a recent news conference at the Pontiac School District Administration Building.
The county is employing $5 million in ARP funds for learning delay grants to be administered by United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and applications will be available soon. The county is also utilizing more than $10 million ARP dollars to provide mental health professionals in schools for the second year in a row. Finally, the county is investing more than $18 million in housing and food assistance for students and their families this year.
Between 75-95 percent of all flowering plants require help with pollination, and those helpers come in the form of bees, birds, butterflies, bats and other little critters. Pollinators protect our food supply and play an important role in supporting healthy ecosystems. Oakland County residents can play a role in helping protect pollinators, by taking actions such as:
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Leave the leaves: Fallen leaves are a valuable resource, not garbage. They provide protection for overwintering pollinators and native plants, so don’t feel guilty about cutting back on clean up this fall.
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Plant native plants: Research indicates that native plants are four times more likely to attract pollinators than non-native plants, and native plants are already best adapted to our local climate, growing seasons and soils.
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Pass on pesticides: Honeybees and other pollinators are at great risk from pesticide use – pesticides are acutely toxic to bees and can kill them instantly, cause disruptions to learning or memory, or impair reproduction. If you must use chemicals, do what you can to reduce the negative impact on pollinators.
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded preschool, and most Oakland County school districts offer a location for the program. GSRP is for eligible four-year-old children with a focus on supporting children’s development of school readiness skills.
Research on preschool programs and specific research on GSRP indicates that children provided with a high-quality preschool experience show significant positive developmental differences when compared to children from the same backgrounds who did not attend a high-quality preschool program. To support learning at home and increase positive child outcomes, programs provide for active and continuous involvement of parents in the learning process.
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners website, Facebook page and YouTube channel are great ways for residents to stay engaged with the Board.
Individuals who follow the Board at @oakgov.boc on Facebook will see photos from events and information from around the county. Subscribers to the Board’s YouTube channel can receive notifications when Board meetings are live and easily find recent videos. The channel can be found by going to YouTube and searching for the “Oakland County Board of Commissioners” or going to bit.ly/YouTubeBOC. In addition, anyone can watch Board and committee meetings and access the latest news, meeting calendars, information about each commissioner and more by visiting www.oakgov.com/boc.
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