District 1 County Commissioner Candidate: I’ll Bring Accountability and Fiscal Oversight to the BOC

by Phyllis Risdon, Candidate for Washtenaw County Commissioners District 1

I am a lifelong resident of Washtenaw County, a proud Air Force mom, and retiree from Dexter Community School’s Technology Department. I have extensive leadership experience with various organizations throughout the community and the State, including being elected to the Board of Directors of many of them. I believe that diversity of thought, perspective, and opinion on a the County Board of Commissioners is imperative. At the moment, what we have is Group Think. 

Like many of you, I am concerned about the ever-higher taxes in our County. Our high property taxes and ever-expanding millages are driving people away. Of the 83 Michigan counties in Michigan, the one with the highest property tax burden is ours! High property taxes discourage economic opportunity and nearly 40 percent of our County’s population live at or near the poverty line.

I am concerned about the lack of affordable housing and high rents: Washtenaw County’s $401,000 median home price is significantly higher than Wayne, Monroe, Oakland, and Livingston Counties at $190k, $240k, $341k, and $369k, respectively.

For the first time in 100 years, Washtenaw is losing population. MLive cites a 6,300 decline in our County population since the census in 2020 (as reported through 2023). This loss is in the top ten of Michigan’s 83 counties. Detroit’s population increased for first time in 60 years.  If our County keeps losing population, those remaining will face a larger tax burden, which could be devastating for both the young professionals, those who live below the poverty line, and older folks on fixed incomes. Nonetheless, our County Commissioners continue to put forward millage renewals, and new millages–continue to gentrify our County full throttle. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about helping people, but recent votes and expenditures by our current Board of Commissioners have been questionable, at best.

As reported by The Ann Arbor Independent, the current Board of Commissioners awarded $1.2 million in tax dollars to the “non-profit” “Supreme Felons, Inc.” On its face, this sounds like a worthwhile grant to help those returning citizens after incarceration.

However, numerous other nonprofits with proven track records did not receive grants from the Community Priority Fund. The Supreme Felons program has very little oversight and in fact lost their non-profit status due to the failure to file taxes.

Would you donate $1.2 million of your money to an organization without proper oversight or a proven record, all the while bypassing other programs that already exist and are established within the community, such as those combating domestic violence or homelessness? My opponent Jason Maciejewski did.

“Washtenaw County credit card and checkbook records which cover Jan-June 2024 show that County employees treated themselves to 368 stays at luxury hotels, limo rides, and even a $500 stay at a Las Vegas casino.” (Ann Arbor Independent Sept. 18, 2024). 

Which hotels do you and your family stay at when traveling, and if provided with a set amount of money to use for travel expenses would you spend more than you were given? Several of our current County Commissioners did just that, and then refused to pay back the money they overspent.

I imagine that you, like me, would keep an accurate record so as not to overspend a $7,000 Flex Account. Several Commissioners, including the Chair Justin Hodge, have repeatedly overspent their Flex Accounts! (The Ann Arbor Independent, March 26, 2024) Fiscal responsibility, and wise stewardship of the public’s money, should be of utmost importance to every elected official! It will be to me.

I plan to hold the reins tighter. I will hold myself accountable. I’ll also hold the County Administrator accountable. Concerned about a looming County budget deficit and growing expenditures, I am opposed to County Commissioners’ plans for future tax increases.  

I’ll establish an open line of communication with my constituents. I will make it my mission to bring to the County Board of Commissioners:

• Common Sense
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Transparency
• Respectful and Constructive Communication

I look forward to representing all the citizens of Washtenaw County.