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Oakland County executive presents structurally balanced recommended budget for 2025–27
Summary
County Executive Dave Coulter and CFO Brian Leffler presented a triennial recommended budget that the administration described as structurally balanced, with no planned use of fund balance and investments in housing, workforce training and public health; board finance hearings are scheduled ahead of an October 1 adoption deadline.
County Executive Dave Coulter presented his recommended budget for fiscal years 2025 through 2027 to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on July 17, saying the plan is “structurally balanced and sustainable” and aims to preserve the county’s AAA bond rating.
The plan, introduced in a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Brian Leffler, projects general fund revenues and expenditures at roughly $598 million and includes no planned use of the county’s fund balance. Leffler told commissioners the audited general fund balance was about $291,000,000, equal to roughly 51% of ongoing general fund expenditures.
Why it matters: The recommended budget sets the county’s spending priorities and establishes the baseline for committee hearings and amendments that must be resolved before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1. Coulter described investments intended to support affordable housing, public health clinics, workforce training and public safety equipment.
Key elements cited by the executive and CFO included: - No planned use of fund balance for ongoing operations and a fund-balance allocation that keeps a minimum 25% “rainy day” reserve. Leffler detailed carryforwards and assignments that make up the reported fund balance. - Employee compensation assumptions: a 4% cost-of-living assumption for FY2026 (3% for FY2027–28) plus negotiated increases and retirement contribution changes for certain employee groups. - Continued funding for capital maintenance, and a forthcoming bond-financing plan to address large facility needs (steam tunnels, roofs, electrical/EV upgrades) with a phased approach and an anticipated presentation in the fourth calendar quarter. - Targeted program investments highlighted by Coulter: funding to expand affordable and accessible housing (more than 700 units cited as development supported by prior initiatives), an additional $300,000 for vaccines and communicable-disease work, and support for Oakland 80 (education and workforce navigation) and small-business initiatives such as Oakland Thrive and Project Diamond.
Coulter warned of uncertainty from external decisions in Lansing and Washington, citing recent grant reductions he said had already affected county programs. Leffler said property tax — the single largest general fund revenue source at about 56% — is sensitive to constitutional limits (Proposal A and Headlee) and that the county is using conservative growth assumptions.
Process and next steps: Finance committee chair Commissioner Gwen Markham has scheduled budget hearings; Leffler and the administration said department-by-department review would follow and that the board would consider amendments before an adoption deadline in September. Coulter and Leffler emphasized collaboration between administration and the board during the multimonth process.
Notable quotes "It is structurally balanced and sustainable," County Executive Dave Coulter said of the recommended budget. "This fund balance is one of our key components of why the county is rated AAA," CFO Brian Leffler said.
Ending: The board accepted the presentation and will begin committee-level hearings in the coming weeks. Commissioners may propose amendments during the Finance Committee process before a final vote ahead of Oct. 1.
