Rochester Hills and Oakland Township residents could see more sheriff's deputies in their neighborhoods under Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter's proposed $1.24 billion budget for 2027.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office patrols both communities under contract, so any expansion of the department's ranks stands to affect local coverage.
The spending plan, reported by MLive, is $87 million more than the current year's $1.17 billion budget and would add 30 full-time deputies along with additional part-time staff, growing the sheriff's office from 1,435 employees to 1,497.
Public hearings on the budget begin Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. in Committee Room A at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Additional hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5; Tuesday, Aug. 11; Wednesday, Aug. 12; and Thursday, Aug. 13. All sessions start at 1 p.m. and are open to the public.
What's in the budget
Investigative and forensic services funding would increase by $1 million to just over $20 million, covering updated crime-lab equipment and a new deputy assigned to the human-trafficking prevention task force.
County workers would get raises: 3% for non-union employees and 3.75% for unionized workers under the current contract. Total personnel costs would jump $29.5 million, bringing the county's payroll to just over $431 million across 5,952 positions.
The budget plans no withdrawals from the general-fund balance for ongoing operations. Anticipated 2027 revenue tops $1.7 billion, up from more than $1.6 billion in 2026.
Political pushback
Not everyone on the Board of Commissioners is on board. Commissioner Bob Hoffman (R-Highland Township) said at the July 30 budget presentation that the county is overreaching.
"I think we're coming up with some programs that I don't think is any of the business of the county," Hoffman said.
He added that the county is constantly burdening homeowners, though he praised the healthy fund balance and said officials shouldn't spend it all just because it's there.
Commissioner Charlie Cavell (D-Ferndale) is drafting an amendment to add $100,000 to the proposed $400,000 for legal aid, specifically to help low-income families with immigration cases. The county's current contractor, Lakeshore Legal Aid, does not accept immigration cases.
What's next
The full Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on the final budget at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in the commissioners' auditorium at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Oakland County's 2027 fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
