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County, union reach deal on voluntary separation incentives for Equalization Division to avoid layoffs
Summary
Oakland County approved a voluntary early separation incentive program (VSIP) targeted to the Equalization Division after presentations by administration, finance and union representatives. The program aims to reduce headcount voluntarily — the administration said the division was budgeted for 81 positions but currently has approximately 58 — and to avoid reductions in force while protecting employees through placement assistance.
Oakland County commissioners approved a voluntary separation incentive program for the Equalization Division intended to reduce staffing levels voluntarily and avoid layoffs after a drop in contracted assessing work.
Administration staff explained the history: changes to assessment contracting reduced county assessing responsibilities and the division’s workload, and a consultant (Watson & Yates) provided benchmarking that informed options for restructuring. County staff said the 2026 budget had been prepared assuming full employment for 81 positions but that, through attrition and transfers, the division currently has roughly 58 employees.
The county said the VSIP would be limited to the Equalization Division and would be voluntary; Human Resources and administration emphasized individualized placement assistance and ‘‘white‑glove’’ support to find roles elsewhere in county government where possible. "We are not doing a reduction in force," administration staff said, describing the program as a voluntary method to align staffing with current service levels.
The union representative, Joe Roselle (UAW), told commissioners the union supports voluntary options and efforts to place members within the county rather than forcing involuntary separations. "We do not wanna see members put out of work," Roselle said, and affirmed collaborative discussions between labor and the administration.
Commissioners praised the collaborative approach and approved the VSIP. Staff said they will return with any necessary budget amendments to reflect realized separations and to re‑align staffing and contracts going forward.
