APRIL 15th WAYS & MEANS MEETING

An important highlight of this Ways & Means meeting was the 2009 Equalization Report to the Board from the County's Director of Equalization, Raman Patel.  The report is available online as the PowerPoint on the report presented at the meeting.

The report showed that the County's taxable value was down less than the feared projected drop of 3%. The decline in taxable value came in at 2.29%. Director Patel told the Board that since the beginning of Equalization in 1959, this was the very first year of a downward adjustment in taxable value for Washtenaw County.  These projections for 2009 are, however, slightly lower than the amended 2009 budget and will be taken into account in the budget process going forward.

Deputy Administrator Verna McDaniel provided the Board more information on County finances with a detailed presentation on the status and history of General Fund support for Non-General Fund programs.

Before the official start of Ways & Means, the evening began with honors and proclamations as Board Chair Rolland Sizemore read a resolution observing Public Health Week in Washtenaw County from April 20 through 26.  The week's theme this year is "Building the foundation for a healthy America." That resolution was followed by another, of appreciation, for the nearly 25 years of service by the outgoing Director of Public Health, Ellen Clement.  Commissioner Sizemore then called Administrator Bob Guenzel forward to receive a framed Certificate of Appreciation for his 35 years of service that had been part of the 2008 'Years of Service' employee recognition. 

Later, during the meeting, Patricia Horne McGee, Director of Washtenaw County Head Start came to the podium to remind the Board, and the public that April is the "Month of the Young Child", and encouraged all to take an interest in the daily lives of young children.

APRIL 15th BOARD MEETING

The Board voted to ratify two large agreements with the Federal government: one on the Administrator's signature for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization Assistance Program to the United States Department of Energy/Michigan Department of Human Services in the amount of $4,291,962 and the ratifying the Chair of the Board's signature on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding for Workforce Investment Act authorized activities in the amount of $3,638,720.  Both of these will be administered through Washtenaw County's Employment Training and Community Services (ETCS).

Trenda Rusher, Director of ETCS and Aaron Kraft, Housing Coordinator for ETCS, answered questions from the Board concerning the new funding.  They told the Board of the opportunities that both the Weatherization and the Workforce development funding would offer the County over the coming months and years.  In answering a query from Commissioners Ping and Ouimet, Rusher told the Board that there would be more outreach and promotion of these opportunities with a planned communication campaign.

APRIL 15th BOARD MEETING

The Board voted to ratify two large agreements with the Federal government: one on the Administrator's signature for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization Assistance Program to the United States Department of Energy/Michigan Department of Human Services in the amount of $4,291,962 and the ratifying the Chair of the Board's signature on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding for Workforce Investment Act authorized activities in the amount of $3,638,720.  Both of these will be administered through Washtenaw County's Employment Training and Community Services (ETCS).

Trenda Rusher, Director of ETCS and Aaron Kraft, Housing Coordinator for ETCS, answered questions from the Board concerning the new funding.  They told the Board of the opportunities that both the Weatherization and the Workforce development funding would offer the County over the coming months and years.  In answering a query from Commissioners Ping and Ouimet, Rusher told the Board that there would be more outreach and promotion of these opportunities with a planned communication campaign.

APRIL 16th WORKING SESSION

Regionalism, Shared Services & Government Efficiency was the central topic covered at the Board's Thursday night Working Session.  Deputy Administrator David Behen presented the Board with a history of the County's Support Services, its strategic importance to the County and its nascent role in new collaborations beyond the County with other municipalities and community partners.  The presentation offered the Board another overview of key information for the 2010/2011 budget process.

"The Board This Week" is a series of articles summarizing the discussion and actions taken by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners at their Wednesday Ways & Means and Regular meetings, and their Thursday Working Session.