Notes from Chair Jeff Irwin - September 17, 2007

This Wednesday the 19th, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will receive the County Administrator’s proposal for the 2008/2009 budget. It is an anxious time for all of us I think, with the State of Michigan’s budget still unsettled, and so many open questions that will influence our finances. Most importantly, the County is in critical negotiations with our employee unions that will drive most of the expense in our budget.

Set against what can only be called a recession here in Michigan and the fact that Washtenaw County is not insulated from this downturn, you might see the case for a little anxiety.

However, my opinion is that Washtenaw County has been preparing for this very moment for the past decade. Because of our forward-looking business practices, such as the Business Improvement Process, a commitment to adequate reserves and a dedication to making the first cuts internally so as not to damage direct service delivery, we are ready not just to survive this economic hardship. We are ready to help lead our community out of it.

County government isn’t just waking up to the fact that times are tough - belt tightening and fiscal prudence have been priorities all along. In fact, the very first Guiding Principle of this organization is to “Ensure long term fiscal stability for the County.”

Perhaps what is more important is that through the culture of professional development and the emphasis on leadership at every level of the organization. I think we have an able and empowered group of people working for the County. These are people who see the value behind “best practices” and finding ways to make the best impact with their jobs.

As Commissioners, we expect this budget to be an accurate representation of the County’s needs and the County’s strengths. We also know that the effectiveness of the County as an organization has led us to more easily collaborate out in the community. These “communities of interest” help widen our focus with the idea of collaboration to help meet the needs of our citizens. All of the presentations during this 2008/2009 budget preparation made to the Commissioners this year came from “Communities of Interest”, and I think they yielded more ideas and more hope for finding ways to do more with less in this economy.

It doesn’t pay to be insular with the business of government and in this budget you will see increased support for outside agencies. There are people in this County who are doing extraordinary work that has great impact on the community. They’re doing work that the County can no longer afford to do, but work that needs to be done and makes our community a better place. SafeHouse, the Humane Society and the Delonis Center come to mind at the moment, but there are many others.

Yes, we are facing an economic downturn and yes, we are working harder to make a positive difference. But I truly believe that with the work we’ve done together over the years, the constant stretching for excellence with a willingness to risk new ideas and an openness to new partnerships, this County will be the leading light of Michigan. We’ll lead the way.

Jeff Irwin

PS: I hope you got a chance read about the packed test rides of the WALLY (new name for the Washtenaw/Livingston commuter rail project.) Hey, it’s happening!