Oakland County commissioner outlines transit and housing initiatives and tells Rochester Hills council of sheriff-service rate increases

Oakland County Commissioner Bridal Johnson told the Rochester Hills City Council on Dec. 2 that the county is expanding transit grants and launching resident services while moving to charge municipalities the ‘true cost’ of contracted sheriff services beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Johnson, who represents Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills on the county board, said Oakland County has secured operating contracts with a number of transit providers for 2025 and is reviewing applications to an Access to Transit grant program that includes an application from Rochester Hills for improvements near Adams Road. The county also maintains a program providing free transit for veterans, he said.

Johnson described a student-debt assistance portal called Savi that the county has made available to residents, and said the county estimates that existing federal loan-forgiveness programs could result in “forgiven more than $7,000,000 of debt in Oakland County.” He said the county is offering one free year of premium service for residents who sign up by September 2025 to help them navigate federal loan-servicer processes.

Johnson told council members that voters last month approved a new parks and recreation millage that will replace a 0.35 mill with a 0.65 mill through 2043 and is expected to…