Treasurer highlights delinquent‑tax trends, homebuyer grants and new GIS mapping for Pontiac

Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg presented the treasurer's FY27–29 budget and highlighted a rise in delinquent taxes turned over to the county: "We had an 11.89% increase in delinquent taxes turned over to our office this year," he said, noting turnover rose from about $87.5 million in 2024 to about $97.9 million in 2025. Wittenberg said fewer than 3% of county parcels are delinquent and emphasized taxpayer assistance meetings and repayment agreements to prevent foreclosure.

Jill Robinson, executive director of the Oakland County Land Bank Authority, outlined demolition and redevelopment work in Pontiac, including McCarroll School (part of a $37 million recreation center project), Weaver School demolition and a 53‑unit missing‑middle housing project. Robinson described a GIS mapping project funded by the Pontiac Funders Collaborative that inventories county and municipal parcels, HUD and Census layers and vacancy/buildability data. She asked the board to transition the contracted GIS analyst to a permanent county position shared with the Housing Trust Fund to keep the mapping capability in house.

Wittenberg also described the county's investment operations under Public Act 20 of 1943 and noted the county invests about $1.2 billion of public funds, now earning more than 4% in conservative investments. Commissioners asked about staffing requests and how land‑sale proceeds and surplus funds are handled given recent court rulings affecting foreclosure surplus claims; staff said some federal litigation (post‑Rafaeli/Hall spacing) remains under remedy and that land‑sale funds have been reserved accordingly.