Washtenaw commissioners establish Office on Aging, approve initial senior‑center funding

Washtenaw County commissioners voted late Thursday to create an Office on Aging and adopt a framework for spending proceeds from the county’s recently approved older‑persons millage.

The board approved the new office, authorized creation of a director position, and adopted policies the county will use to distribute millage proceeds. Commissioners also approved a $2 million, initial allocation to qualifying senior centers and set aside a 5% capital reserve of the millage for emergency facility or equipment needs.

The vote concluded months of outreach and public debate about how to spend the millage. Supporters said the changes will get money into senior centers quickly while creating a longer term grant process. Opponents urged clearer operational language and recommended waiting for the new director to be hired so the office could shape disbursement rules.

"We have been so transparent about this," said Commissioner Crystal Somerville, urging colleagues to approve the framework so money can reach seniors who rely on center services. The board’s final motion reflects that balance: an immediate floor for established centers and a planned competitive process for larger service grants.

What the board approved

- Office on Aging. The board created an Office on Aging and authorized a director position to oversee millage spending, program consistency and grant processes. The county administrator will manage those initial startup responsibilities in coordination with the director once hired.

- Initial senior‑center allocations. The board directed $2,000,000 in millage proceeds for qualifying senior centers, naming the first set of centers to receive the base allocations. The framework requires centers to serve all county residents age 60 and older and not to turn anyone away from services provided with millage support.

- Emergency capital reserve. Commissioners approved a 5% annual reserve from millage proceeds to fund onetime emergency capital needs for providers serving older adults (examples listed in the policy include vehicle replacement, facility repairs and accessibility upgrades). The resolution instructs the administrator and the new director to coordinate disbursements; unspent funds will be held in the millage fund year‑to‑year until needed.

Why supporters pressed for the votes now

Supporters argued the county faces near‑term needs — seniors’ programs disrupted by building damage or broken equipment, and measures to shore up nutrition and transportation programs while a newly created office recruits a director.

Commissioner Maciejewski said some senior centers are already without space or losing capacity; the board’s initial allocations will preserve basic services while competitive grants are set up. Commissioner Beaman framed the vote as ensuring places where older adults gather remain open and able to deliver core services such as meals, coordination of rides and health screenings.

Concerns raised by some commissioners

Other commissioners urged caution. They said naming an initial set of centers in policy risks making permanent choices before the Office on Aging is staffed and before a formal grant process is in place. Commissioner Ravi urged that county staff return with operational details if the new office or administrator finds practical or legal problems with the adopted wording.

County administrator Greg Dill told the board staff will bring implementation proposals back to the board: "We already have a conversation teed up with myself and Tony and Andrew for 01:00 tomorrow," he said, noting that staff will repackage recommendations after the board’s policy decisions.

How the millage framework will be implemented

- Base allocations: The adopted framework guarantees a base allocation for qualifying senior centers the board named during the meeting. Those centers will receive a minimum annual allocation to support day‑to‑day operations.

- Competitive grants: The policy directs staff to run competitive requests for proposals for additional millage funding focused on countywide priorities such as expanded transportation, home‑based services and supportive programming. The board approved the plan to manage those grants on a multi‑year cycle, with annual reporting back to the commissioners.

- Emergency capital fund: The 5% reserve is intended for urgent, one‑time infrastructure or equipment needs that would otherwise consume a center’s annual operating allocation (for example major roof or furnace replacement, or urgent vehicle replacement for meal delivery). Administrator and the director will approve disbursements in coordination, and any unspent funds will remain in the millage fund for future needs.

What comes next

Staff will prepare the request‑for‑proposals and detailed operating procedures for the board’s review, and begin the search for a director of the Office on Aging. The administrator told commissioners that staff will return with wording and recommended implementation steps for any operational gaps discovered while standing up the new office.

Why this matters

Voters in Washtenaw County approved the older‑persons millage in 2024 to expand and stabilize services for older residents. Commissioners said the framework provides both immediate assistance — preserving center operations and a contingency for urgent capital needs — while creating a competitive, regional grant process for program expansion.

Ending

Commissioners closed the long meeting by urging staff to move quickly on implementation and to return with clear operational language if adjustments become necessary. The first payments under the framework will depend on administrative work and the hiring of the new director, both of which staff said are priorities for the coming weeks.