For more complete information, please see the Ways & Means webcast, the Regular meeting webcast or the Working Session webcast, along with their agendas.
JUNE 3rd WAYS & MEANS MEETING
An important highlight of this Ways & Means meeting was the first phase of 2010/11 budget adjustment recommendations to close the projected $26 million deficit, presented to the Board by County Administrator Bob Guenzel. The Board discussed and approved the recommended adjustments of over $14 million. These recommended changes to the budget will now await final approval at the July 8th regular Board meeting.
The remaining $12 million of the projected $26 million dollar deficit will be addressed in the next phase of the recommendations later this year. The related memoranda and resolutions can be viewed online.
Budget Manager Jennifer Watson provided an updated review of the 1st quarter of the County’s 2009 budget, outlining some of the new projections of revenue losses and expenditures for this year. The presentation is available online.
The new projection is a $3.3 million budget shortfall for 2009 that will be addressed through Administrative adjustments later this summer. The presentation cited a $1 million payout as part of the recent Pfizer property tax settlement, worse than expected losses in tax revenues and higher than expected medical costs as some of the reasons for the new projection. The presentation included a review of the general fund and non general fund revenue and expenditure considerations as opportunities to balance the 2009 budget shortfall.
Earlier during the meeting the Board discussed and approved reductions to their own 2010/11 budget in the amount of 11%. The resolution is available online.
The Board also discussed grant agreements from the Sheriff’s Office, Head Start and ETCS. Cover memoranda and resolutions are available online.
JUNE 3rd BOARD MEETING
Board Vice Chair Mark Ouimet presented a resolution congratulating the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Department's Pharmaceutical Take Back Program for being recognized as the Michigan Recycling Coalition's “Outstanding Recycling Program”.
JUNE 5th WORKING SESSION
The June 5th Working Session featured a progress update from Strategic Planning Director Tony Vanderworp on the Ann Arbor Region Success Strategy. The Ann Arbor Region Success is a comprehensive initiative to ensure the smart and successful growth of the Ann Arbor region on the 21st century.
Just preceding that discussion, the Board received an update from ETCS (Employment Training & Community Service) Director Trenda Rusher on the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), one of 34 different programs administered through ETCS. The SYEP is designed to prepare young people, ages 14-21 for employment made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which provided $1.2 billion nationwide for WIA Youth activities, with $2.3 million to coming to Washtenaw County.
"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.