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Wayne County approves omnibus budget adjustments; certifies $6.8M FEMA migrant shelter grant
Summary
Commissioners approved a package of budget adjustments (items 1–26) in a roll‑call omnibus vote. Key items discussed before the vote included a $6.8 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to prepare migrant sheltering and a juvenile services budget overrun tied to higher residential placement rates.
Wayne County commissioners voted to approve a package of budget adjustments and certifications that covered year‑end reallocations, grants and shortfalls across multiple departments, including a $6.8 million FEMA grant intended to fund short‑term shelter and services for migrants.
The omnibus motion, which moved items 1–26 for full board approval, passed on a roll call. Commissioner Rickey registered support for the omnibus motion but said he would vote against item 23 (the shuttle/shelter grant) if taken separately; the motion nonetheless carried.
Among items discussed before the vote:
• Shuttle/shelter grant: Ahmad Netter, finance manager for Homeland Security, said the county was awarded a $6.8 million FEMA shelter-and-services grant in December and that Wayne County is the grantee with subrecipients that include the City of Detroit and Hype Athletic. Netter said the grant is intended to accommodate people arriving from the southern border without legal presence and to provide “primary preliminary service like health and lodging and food for a period of 15 days.” He added that subrecipients submit expense reports to the county, which then requests reimbursement from FEMA. Netter told commissioners the county had not yet incurred expenses on the grant but had certified the funding in case sheltering is required. Commissioners asked whether the grant could be subject to federal policy changes or clawbacks; Netter said the county had received no official notice of such action to date.
• Senior services: William Chuck Jackson, director of Wayne County Senior Services, said a budget adjustment included funds to cover a prior fiscal‑year deficit tied to halal congregate meals and home‑delivered meals for county seniors.
• Liability payments: Derek Coley, DPS administration director, and Alicia Baker Giles, DPS finance director, said a budget reallocation of $143,192 in the DPS liability line was needed to cover year‑end settlement payments; DPS finance reported two settlement payments totaling $160,000 that drove the overrun.
• Juvenile services overrun: Sharron Rose, finance director for juvenile and youth services, and Deputy Director Tia Loran explained a roughly $4.8 million budget overrun from the prior year, which the department attributed largely to increased provider rates. Loran said the county had increased the residential provider’s daily rate to match the state rate, which contributed to the higher expenditures. The department said it is reviewing an addendum that could raise rates again and that staff will report back on state budget impacts.
• Opioid funding reconciliation: Mal Caprout, management and budget finance director for Health, Human and Veteran Services, said the department was reconciling opioid funds for the end of the fiscal year. Staff stated that a contract proposing to spend about $1,600,000 of the funding is under review.
After discussion, the chair moved to advance items 1–26 to the full board. The clerk conducted a roll call: Commissioner Scott, yes; Commissioner Rickey, yes (with a stated no on item 23 if separated); Commissioner Clemente, yes; Commissioner Anderson, yes; Commissioner Badu, yes; Chair Kinloch, yes. The motion was recorded as carried.
The action approved budget certifications and reallocations; commissioners directed staff to provide additional details to the board in follow‑up briefings, including how opioid and other program funds will be spent going forward.
Votes at a glance
- Omnibus motion: Move items 1–26 (budget adjustments and revenue certifications) — Approved by roll call; Chair moved the motion; no named second in the record; motion carried. Commissioner Rickey noted he would vote against item 23 if it had been considered separately. - Item 23 (shuttle/shelter grant certification) — Described in packet as $6,800,000 FEMA grant for shelter and services; discussed and certified as part of omnibus approval; Commissioner Rickey stated he is opposed to item 23 if separated.
No public commenters addressed the committee during the meeting.
