Washtenaw County Commissioners To Discuss Mental Health/ Public Safety Millage Renewal Again Tonight April 3, 2024

I didn’t have time this week to write about the ongoing discussion re: the Washtenaw County Mental Health/ Public Safety Millage this week and have a union meeting later so can’t be present for the working session tonight.

I will be watching the recording later though and I have two brief items related to this.

About a month ago, I submitted a FOIA for all of the county sheriff [WCSO] budget documents. The only ones I can find online note the revenues from the millage and general funds going to the WCSO, but no line items of the expenditures, how specifically those dollars are being used by the WCSO. The FOIA officer responded to my request on last Friday, stating that they can provide the documents I am requesting, but that I need to pay ~$938 in order for those documents to be sent to me.

Seems to me that those documents are relevant to our current public discourse about whether or not to renew the millage, right?

Here are my responses to clarifying questions from Tammy the FOIA officer:

Anyway, I could be missing something that is online and available to the public to view, so if you know where on the county website we can find those line item expenditures please comment below, share a link. Thanks!

Oh and the other thing I wanted to mention is that I have been talking with one of the sheriff’s program managers to gain insight as to how the funds are being sent. At this time, the manager has not sent me anything in terms of what I put in the FOIA request.

Hope you are able to watch and participate tonight if you are so moved. Before the meeting begins there is a public comment allotted time slot where residents can speak to commissioners for 1 minute on any topic. During the regular meeting at 7pm, you can speak for 3 minutes during public comment time. County Board Meeting nights always have the work session first and regular meeting second the latter of which is where any votes on policy take place.

Here is a link to a page where you can find the live stream and agenda, packet documents for tonight’s meetings.

https://www.washtenaw.org/2874/Board-Meeting-Agendas-Minutes

Thanks for reading