Washtenaw County projects modest general‑fund surplus; finance rolls out 1,177‑page program inventory

Deputy finance director Catherine Jones Alter told the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 that year‑to‑date financial data through June 30 show the county projecting a small net surplus in the general fund while also identifying multi‑million‑dollar shortfalls concentrated in public safety operations.

Jones Alter said the county’s projected general‑fund revenues and expenditures currently produce a net projected surplus of roughly $3.3 million after technical adjustments and transfers. She said the outlook has shifted since the first‑quarter update because of two sets of changes: a $2.6 million technical reduction built into this quarter’s projections (a planned contribution into fund balance plus transfers), and a mix of revenue and expenditure movements driven primarily by sheriff’s office contract policing billing, overtime and legal costs.

Why it matters: County officials and commissioners said the report is a working picture heading into budget season. The surplus provides short‑term flexibility but hides material variance inside major service areas — notably public safety and justice — that will shape board budget choices for 2026.

Major drivers and clarifying details -…