Oakland County approves new standard assessing contract rates after heated public comment

Oakland County—inance Committee on April 23 approved a new standard contract and three-year rate schedule for county-provided real and personal property assessing services after more than two hours of public comment and a 5-3 vote.

The vote implements a uniform per-parcel rate structure, with an option for communities to choose a smoothing (deferred) payment schedule. The county—FO, Brian Loeffler, and Equalization Officer Michael Lohmeier told commissioners the change is intended to reflect the actual cost of providing assessing services, including salaries, benefits and an indirect-cost allocation derived from a MAXIMUS study used across county departments.

Why it matters: municipalities that contract with the county for assessing services said the proposed increases were larger and came later in the budget cycle than they expected. Officials from Pontiac, Madison Heights, Huntington Woods, Wixom and other cities, villages and townships told the committee they had little time to absorb the sudden cost increases during their municipal budget work and warned the changes could force some jurisdictions to drop county services or reduce local services.

The county said the new rates align previously inconsistent charges across jurisdictions and reflect years of underpricing. Loeffler said the equalization team performs work that some private contractors would charge additional hourly fees to handle (including representation before the Michigan Tax Tribunal), and that the county had been subsidizing costs for decades.

Public comment and concerns

Speakers across more than 20 municipalities and several government and union representatives urged the committee to reconsider or slow the change. Joe Roselle, second vice president of UAW Local 889, which represents equalization employees, urged commissioners not to "put UAW members on the street out of work," saying about 38 county employees could be affected. Roselle called for preserving in-house expertise and warned that privatizing assessing could lead to poor outcomes.

Multiple municipal finance officers and managers said the increases were not communicated early enough for them to adjust budgets. Linda Cunath of Madison Heights said her city pays $237,787 now and would face a projected charge of about $449,107 under the proposal, calling that a "194.7% increase" and urging the committee to reconsider indirect-cost allocations. Mike McGinnis, Pontiac city council president, said Pontiac has more than 25,000 parcels that would be affected and asked for phased or smoothed implementation.

County response and options

Loeffler said the county oes not seek to "make a profit" on the service but must recover the cost of personnel, benefits, and overhead. He said some local jurisdictions currently pay widely different per-parcel amounts and that the county's average current non-county-served rate is roughly $33.50 per parcel. To ease the transition the county offered two implementation options in the proposed contract: an immediate full-rate option and a multi-year smoothing (deferred payment) option. Loeffler said the smoothing option would shift some cost into later contract years and that communities would select which option to accept.

Commission debate and outcome

Commissioners split over whether to accept the county nalysis and implement the uniform rates now or to delay. Supporters said the county must charge the true cost to remain fiscally sound and to preserve service quality; opponents said the timing and scale would force municipalities to cut services or terminate their county contracts.

The motion to establish the standard contract and rates for assessing services was moved by Commissioner Woodward and supported by Commissioner Powell; it passed 5-3.

Votes at a glance (other committee actions)

- Oak video conferencing software contract modification (cameras in jails/courts): moved by Commissioner Smith Charles, supported by Commissioner Powell; passed (7-0). - West Wing elevator button and controls replacement (full mod for IT elevator, buttons for West Wing extension): moved by Commissioner Smith Charles, supported by Commissioner Spitz; passed (7-0). - 2025 re-monumentation and survey grant acceptance (state grant): moved by Commissioner Spitz, supported by Commissioner Long; passed (7-0). Awarded amount: $172,709. - 2025 medical marijuana operations and oversight grant (Health Dept.): moved by Commissioner Spiz, supported by Commissioner Powell; passed (7-0). Awarded amount: $432,000 (slightly lower than prior year). - Use of non-departmental general fund contingency for 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise signage (Road Commission): moved by Commissioner Smith Charles, supported by Commissioner Spiz; passed (7-0). Not to exceed $11,016.39. - Use of forfeited funds (Sheriff's office law enforcement enhancement funds): moved by Commissioner Spitz, supported by Commissioner Powell; passed (6-1). Requested appropriation: $286,400 for equipment and training (including replacement drones; one donated drone from Oakland Township noted in discussion). - Support for Pontiac Growing to Live community garden (special project sponsorship): moved by Commissioner Powell, supported by Commissioner Smith Charles; passed (8-0). County contribution: $10,000 (project total reported as roughly $30,000-$40,000 by presenters). - Sponsorship of Southfield Community Cup Challenge: moved by Commissioner Smith Charles, supported by Commissioner Taylor; passed (7-1). County contribution adopted: $10,000 (event budget reported at $15,000; city confirmed it covers the event and sought $5,000-$10,000 support). - Fiscal year 2024 deficit elimination plan (six funds on plan): moved by Commissioner Smith Charles, supported by Commissioner Cavell; passed (8-0).

What the county will do next

- The county will begin billing under the new standard contract rates for communities that adopt the contract; communities may elect the smoothing option described in the contract. - County staff and equalization leaders said they will continue outreach to municipalities to explain rate components and options.

Ending

Commissioners and county staff said they will follow up with municipalities about implementation choices and technical questions about parcel classifications, indirect costs and Michigan tax-tribunal representation. Several commissioners urged additional outreach to reduce the risk that municipalities move to private contractors; several municipal speakers said they will explore alternatives if the increases are unaffordable.

"Do not put UAW members on the street out of work," said Joe Roselle, reflecting the labor stakes many speakers raised.