Oakland County management office outlines earlier budget timeline, audit corrective plan

Brian Loeffler, chief financial officer for management and budget, told the finance committee the county has adjusted its budget process to begin earlier and tie department requests to performance‑management plans. "What we were trying to do is as they presented their ideas or their ask to the county executive…we asked for additional clarification," Loeffler said, describing a new template that includes five‑year goals and KPIs for each office.

Commissioners pressed Loeffler about repeat findings in the annual comprehensive financial report and the single audit. Loeffler said the administration has submitted corrective action plans and is preparing a universal calendar to coordinate department deliverables so the audit can be completed sooner. "I asked for a universal calendar of how we're gonna make sure that the audit this next year is delivered by March 1," he said, noting statutory audit deadlines and a goal to move the county's internal timeline up by a month to free time for remediation.

The presentation also flagged fiscal drivers in the management budget: ARPA reimbursements produced a one‑time spike in FY25 revenues, and charges‑for‑service fell by about $1.6 million due to terminated equalization contracts with several local communities. Loeffler said a vacant‑position analysis led to deleting roles that have been empty for more than 12 months while allowing departments to add positions aligned with strategic plans. Commissioners requested periodic midyear updates; Loeffler said a midyear report and the global calendar would be available to track corrective actions and audit status.