The Genesee County Board of Commissioners is concluding a successful 2025 year and looks forward to 2026 with excitement and anticipation.

Here is a compilation of some of the work done by the Board of Commissioners in 2025. Each of the items listed required board deliberation and action.

Public Safety & Justice Services

• Expanded jail-based treatment and recovery supports (approved MAT/MOUD services inside the jail; approved a residential jail treatment expansion grant; and renewed youth/family justice-system support partnerships). 
• Strengthened victim services and violence-prevention capacity (approved victim-assistance funding and multiple grants supporting domestic violence reduction and victim advocacy staffing).
• Invested in public safety staffing and training (created and funded three new Police Deputy positions; approved bias/sensitivity training; supported specialized law enforcement operations through grant funding). 
• Sustained and expanded specialty court programming through multiple State Court Administrative Office grants (Recovery, Mental Health, Sobriety, Family Dependency Treatment, Veterans Treatment Courts). 
• Supported regional anti-trafficking/drug enforcement by approving a Byrne Discretionary grant to continue GHOST operations through 2027. 
• Improved emergency/field medical response by approving a pilot partnership for prehospital blood transfusions with the American Red Cross.
• Provided school safety supports through School Resource Officer agreements and law-enforcement service partnerships.
• Demonstrated crisis leadership through a declared local state of emergency following a tragic incident in Grand Blanc Township. 

Organizational Operations & Policy

• Consistent with the adopted Capital Improvement Plan, supported the move of the Genesee County Administration Building to its new facility (“the Tower”) across Saginaw Street from the UM-Flint Pavilion.
• Spearheaded the creation of a new Opioid Settlement Steering Committee made up of 11 community members charged with making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners regarding the investment of Opioid Settlement Funds.
• Advanced district court collaboration by approving an MOU with the 67th District Court for limited court consolidation.
• Upgraded county governance and accountability tools (adopted a Volunteer Days policy; approved an Annual Evaluation policy for direct reports; created performance review instruments; amended bylaws/procedures). 
• Improved resident experience at the Administration Building by approving a registration/queuing system to ensure residents get quality service in a timely manner.
• Invested in workforce and talent supports (approved an employee tuition-discount MOU with UM-Flint.
• Approved pay adjustments for both non-union and union employees reflecting the county’s desire to provide competitive and fair wages and benefits.
• Opened formal public comment on the countywide master plan (“Genesee: Our County, Our Future”), including a defined public comment window and public engagement events. 

Finance & Administration

• Approved significant bond financing actions (Drain District improvements; treatment plant service-area capital improvements; large bond refinance with projected long-term savings). 
• Accepted major state and philanthropic investments supporting county priorities (including a $5 million grant tied to the new State Park and multiple Mott Foundation grants). 
• Strengthened fiscal stewardship by approving a formal debt management policy. 
• Continuation of Commission-directed district investment strategy that included large-scale investments through the Metropolitan Planning Commission using CDBG/ARPA/TIP funding stream.
• Approved 3-year contracts with all county employee bargaining units. 

Community & Human Services

• Secured and approved major Head Start / Early Head Start resources (accepted $15 million federal Head Start grant; approved large operating agreements; approved additional Early Head Start partner agreements). 
• Spearheaded the creation of the Genesee County Senior Services Task Force, a 9-member body charged with assessing the needs of seniors in our community and making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners regarding future spending of the voter-approved, county-wide senior services millage.
• Supported a one-time 5% funding increase for each of the 16 senior centers in Genesee County.
• Expanded senior services and nutrition supports (meal-program expansions and senior-center operational agreements funded through the Senior Services millage). 
• Advanced maternal/infant health and health equity initiatives (DAD Initiative grant; Healthy Start grant; Glow & Grow grant).
• Approved major resident assistance programs including $3 million water payment assistance program. 
• Expanded access to care for uninsured residents (approved an amendment increasing the Genesee Health Plan agreement total). 
• Backed community investments and amenities (non-motorized trail grant; Gus Macker support; Ally Challenge sponsorship; convention/visitor services agreement funded by accommodations tax). 
• Advanced major infrastructure priorities (selected a Master Developer for the new State Park project valued at $20 million; approved DNR programming support for the park). 
• Invested in clean environment and household safety (approved Household Hazardous Waste Collection program agreement; advanced planning/design for a Recycling & Education Center). 
• Supported countywide surface water expansion by investing $8 million to bring surface water to southern Genesee County communities. 

Appointments & Civic Engagement

• Filled and renewed key community leadership roles (multiple appointments/reappointments spanning the Land Bank Authority, Genesee Health System Board, Road Commission, District Library Board, Bishop Airport Authority, and more). 
• Dedicated the new Board Auditorium in honor of Bryant “BB” Nolden. 
• Elevated veteran visibility and appreciation through a unanimous Operation Green Light resolution and a county-hosted kickoff celebration.
• Increased information-sharing across Genesee County, internally and externally, through expanded social media, earned media and constituent relations outreach.