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Township leaders press county for accurate sheriff‑contract true‑ups as millage decisions loom
Summary
Township officials told the board they still lack the true‑up and rate information they need to set millage language; commissioners discussed missed January action items, the need for Fiscal Services and the sheriff’s office to align on rates, and assigned follow‑up to a commissioner to convene communities.
Multiple township leaders and commissioners pressed county staff to deliver accurate "true‑up" reports and to align rates between Fiscal Services and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office so municipalities can set millage language.
Chris Farack of Orion Township told the board that missing or late true‑up figures represent substantial tax differences for small jurisdictions and said communities need the data quickly to approve ballot language. ‘‘We just need the information to do our jobs and we don't have it still,’’ Farack said.
Commissioners responded with a sustained discussion about work items the board set in January: communities were to receive true‑up reports in late February, Fiscal Services (Brian) was to engage the sheriff’s office (Gaya) to align on going‑forward rates, and staff were to hold meetings with communities to explain the numbers before reports circulated. Several commissioners said those steps were not completed on schedule.
"At some point we need to get stuff done and it needs to be right," one commissioner said, urging Fiscal Services to deliver the promised reports. Board members agreed Commissioner Gendel (Gel) would take point on following up, staff should share an updated timeline with affected communities, and that Fiscal Services and the sheriff’s office ought to meet directly to confirm the true‑up calculations and the rates to be proposed.
No formal board action was taken on the matter; commissioners asked staff to reconvene the promised meetings and to provide a clear timeline so communities facing imminent millage decisions can proceed with accurate numbers.
