Press Release

Wayne County Commissioners today adopted a balanced $2.02 billion operating budget
for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with money set aside for county township initiative projects
involving roads, a therapeutic park for those with special needs, non-profit and small businesses.

The budget is balanced for the ninth consecutive year under the administration of County Executive Warren C. Evans and reflects wage and salary increases of 2.5 to 3 percent for sheriff’s deputies, county prosecutor’s staff and other county employees.

“We have lost key personnel to other counties for far too long and this past year, as
county finances continue to improve, we made it a priority to retain and attract quality
employees,” commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said.

In other highlights:

The budget includes $7 million for the county township initiative. The township initiative
covers road projects in the county’s nine townships, which have been underfunded for several recent years.

Some $150.000 will be distributed to the Western Wayne County Therapeutic Program,
which provides services for an estimated 8,000 special needs individuals from 25 county communities.

Non-profit and small businesses in Wayne County will receive $3 million in grants and
funding programs to be developed by the Economic Development Corporation.
Funding for the county pension system continues to rise and is now reaching a 65 percent funded level in contrast to the 44 percent recorded in 2013.

As has been recent practice, the budget also includes a projected budget for 2024-25 to
guide future spending.

The budget was adopted after presentations by22 departments and elected officials over 11 meetings held this summer with representatives of the county commission, county executive’s office, county elected officials and department heads. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, several budget hearing meetings were held outside the county building, with sites in Detroit, Lincoln Park, Dearborn and Northville Township serving as hosts.

“I am pleased with the cooperation we received from everyone. Much appreciation to
County Executive Warren Evans and Deputy County Executive Assad Turfe for setting the collegial tone from the beginning, countywide elected officials, department heads, Terrance T. Adams, the county commission’s chief fiscal advisor/budget director, and his staff,” said Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch (D-Detroit), who headed the budget meetings as Chair of the Committee on Ways & Means. “This budget will do a lot in continuing to move the county forward.”