Oakland County adopts FY 2026 budget, boosts housing, veterans and public safety funding

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the county's fiscal year 2026 general appropriations act and set county property tax rates on Sept. 18, 2025. The vote was 18-0.

Commissioner Gwen Markham, finance chair, said the budget resulted from an unusually cooperative process and flagged several newly funded priorities. "This has been probably the smoothest process that I've participated in doing the county budget in the 7 years I've sat on the finance committee," Markham said. She highlighted more than $2 million for the county housing trust fund, $200,000 for emergency housing shelters, funding for a sheriff's office crisis response unit, a veterans benefits counselor position and a housing coordinator.

Markham said the finance committee prepared early, meeting with departments in April and May to avoid the surprises that have marked past cycles. "We were able to really work through a lot of details for all of the departments," she said.

Why it matters: The budget funds core county services that begin Oct. 1 and reflects bipartisan support on the finance committee. Commissioners emphasized investments tied to homelessness prevention, public safety and veterans services.

Discussion and failed amendments: Several amendments introduced on the floor failed. Commissioner Spitz, who took part in the finance process, said he supported the budget and praised the staff for thorough answers to committee questions: "I support this budget 100%." Commissioner Nelson said he would back the budget because it contained "important investments in public health and safety," while reiterating concerns about the need for continued transparency.

Commissioner Cavell moved a set of amendments that would have added Medicaid and SNAP navigators, funding for nonprofit food pantries, a $100,000 allocation for immigrant legal services, and creation of an Office of Inspector General funded at 0.01% of the general fund. Those amendments failed on recorded votes: the Medicaid/SNAP and food-network amendment (4 yeas, 14 nays), the $100,000 immigrant legal-aid amendment (3 yeas, 15 nays) and the Office of Inspector General amendment (2 yeas, 16 nays).

Vote tally and next steps: The board's final roll call on the FY 2026 general appropriations act was unanimous (18-0). The fiscal year begins Oct. 1; departments will implement the appropriations and staffing changes included in the adopted plan.

Ending: Commissioners and county staff acknowledged the long preparation cycle and thanked department personnel and fiscal services staff for their work in producing the budget.