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Greetings!
I am excited to share several updates from the Oakland County Treasurer's Office. We have been hard at work with various initiatives, from our ongoing efforts to prevent property tax foreclosure for families, individuals, and business owners to our annual Financial Empowerment Arts Contest and more.
I am also pleased to announce the results of our recent banking RFP and share our local investment strategy, which supports the banks and credit unions investing in Oakland County residents, businesses and communities.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it helpful. If you have any questions or if we can assist you, please contact us.
See you around the county,
 Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention
We are committed to preventing property tax foreclosure and helping Oakland County property owners retain their property rights. We understand financial difficulties occur and the stress of possibly losing a home or business due to delinquent taxes.
From December 2023 through March 2024, we held 1,414 one-on-one Taxpayer Assistance Meetings. During these meetings, we worked with property owners to understand their financial situation and develop repayment plans that enabled them to pay their unpaid taxes over time and retain their property. We issued 1,637 repayment plans, helping property owners avoid foreclosure and keep their homes.
In March, we also launched a multimedia campaign—including broadcast, digital and newspaper ads that generated over two million impressions—encouraging property owners with delinquent taxes to contact our office for help. We will continue working tirelessly to support property owners in our community and ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.
I attended 12 city council and township meetings to share information on the foreclosure process, our prevention efforts, and the availability of help and resources, including financial coaching from our office. Additionally, 37 communities shared the information during their city, village and township meetings.
 If you or someone you know have unpaid property taxes, we’re here to help! Contact our office at (248) 858-0611.
Announcing Our New Primary Banking Partner
In February 2024, JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) Bank was selected as Oakland County's new lead banking partner after the Treasurer's 2023 Banking Service RFP process. JPMC Bank's technology strength and experience in integrating with the County's software were the main factors in their selection. The County expects to streamline processes and increase efficiencies by automating accounting entries and reducing the number of bank accounts. Our long-term relationships with Huntington Bank and Flagstar Bank will continue.
Local Investing Strategy
Our Office has a simple philosophy on investing our funds - be fiscally responsible and socially consciousness. We combine that with the highest ethical and investment standards to ensure the safety of public funds, proper liquidity and return on investment, in that order.
Our investment strategy also prioritizes local banks and credit unions investing in Oakland County residents, businesses and communities. We currently invest with the following financial institutions:
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Chief Financial Credit Union
Choice One Bank
CICB Bank USA
Citizens State Bank
Community Unity Bank
Cornerstone Credit Union
F&M Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Mi Bank
The State Bank
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First Independence Bank
First State Bank
Flagstar Bank
Horizon Bank
Huntington Bank
Huron Valley State Bank
Mercantile Bank
Michigan First Credit Union
Waterford Bank
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Financial Empowerment Arts Contest
Thank you to the students, teachers, parents and our partners, Oakland Schools, Flagstar Bank and the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency, for participating in and supporting this year’s contest.
This year, 144 submissions from 17 Oakland County public high schools were submitted by incredibly artistic and talented students. The entries were judged on creativity, artistic execution, incorporation of the financial empowerment theme, and answers to the supplemental questions.
Winners will be announced at a private reception on May 2, 2024, and cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place and honorable mentions for each grade level. We are excited to share the awe-inspiring artwork in our next community update.
Around the County
The Oakland County Treasurer's Office helps provide financial stability to the County’s 63 cities, villages, and townships. On March 1, local government units transfer their unpaid property taxes to the Oakland County Treasurer's Office for collection every year.
The Michigan General Property Tax Act established the Treasurer Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund (DTRF), which reimburses local government units for unpaid property taxes that are moved to the Oakland County Treasurer's Office. The reimbursement process is called Settlement.
The DTRF maintains a funding commitment of $200 million to ensure Oakland County communities have the necessary financial resources to meet their budgetary needs and provide essential public services.
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Protect Your Home from Fraud
The Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office offers a free service called Property Records Notification (PRN) to help individuals prevent fraud related to their property records. Homeowners can search for and receive notifications about unauthorized documents recorded against their property in the Oakland County Register of Deeds Office.
This service is designed to help prevent deed and mortgage fraud by allowing residential property owners to verify suspicious documents. If suspicious activity is detected, contact the Register of Deeds office for assistance.
To learn more and register for this service, use the button below.
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Have an upcoming event that you want me to attend? Please email Zinnia Kallabat at kallabatz@oakgov.com.
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