Audit Committee
Wayne County Commission
Politics
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. EDT
500 Griswold St Detroit 48226 (Directions)
Guardian Building, Hearing Room 704
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
A J Johnson
Wayne County has twice amended their budget after the end of the fiscal year to cover, presumably, a shortfall. This is a violation of state law which requires localities to make amendments during the fiscal year the budget covers. More timely reporting is being requested.
Good Morning, Detroit! Today at 10 a.m. EST I will be live-tweeting the Wayne County Commission Audit Committee meeting on behalf of the @detdocumenters.bsky.social. You may also find me at @detroitjcs.bsky.social.
09:03 AM Mar 12, 2025 CDT
Thanks for the follows, and shout out to our partners: @bridgedet313.bsky.social @freep.com @metrotimes.com @michiganpublic.bsky.social @outliermedia.org @planetdetroit.org @wdet.bsky.social @wxyzdetroit.bsky.social
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit The Wayne County Commission and its employees are the legislative branch of county government. The chief role of the commission is to adopt a budget and enact ordinances. The commission also approves contracts, appointments and rules.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit This meeting has begun and is on time. A material weakness was found but did not amend the budget. There was some delay in getting into the meeting so I am yet unsure if a quorum exists. Budget & financial accounting are meeting to ensure this material weakness does not happen.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit They are discussing violations of the public act that occurred two years prior. The public act requires no budget amendments occur after the budget is submitted. An external audit found material weaknesses, which is a failure of internal controls.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Currently going through an example of processes and circumstances where this could occur. In the last quarter they used an Oracle cloud based system (new to the county) whereas before, they used something else. There was also a cyber attack in the last quarter you may recall.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit It takes 6-8 months to get the IT system back up and running properly, and it affected their payroll system as well. wxyz.com/news/local-new…
wxyz.com/news/local-new…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit In the last meeting, they discussed the delay in payroll processing. We last covered this meeting 3/6/2025: Their next meeting for this committee is March 26 at 10 a.m. EST. detroit.documenters.org/assignments/fu…
detroit.documenters.org/assignments/fu…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit We last covered this meeting 3/6/2025: Their next meeting for this committee is March 26 at 10 a.m. EST. detroit.documenters.org/assignments/fu…
detroit.documenters.org/assignments/fu…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit If revenue not received by December 31, they cannot recognize it. There can be a 90-day delay and this would be interpreted as a budget adjustment, which is a violation of state law. Discussing grants categorized as revenue but they also need (federal) reimbursements.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Federal grants could be delayed (or not come in at all). It may take up to 90 days to recognize revenue after Dec. 31st but this is an accounting policy. Must submit timely (federal or grant) revenue reimbursements to not run into this problem.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Commissioner reminds the board there is a local ordinance that also references the submission of the budget which should be reviewed. Discussing staff loss and institutional knowledge and the need for quarterly reports. On the agenda, this is NEW BUSINESS.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Please also see the Wayne County Audit Committee page that contains the agenda, meeting schedule, and videos of their meetings: waynecounty.com/elected/commis…
waynecounty.com/elected/commis…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Also see our March 6, 2025 reporting which provides great context for this meeting. We summarized: Problems with Oracle and payroll have not been resolved. Employees have experienced incorrect paychecks benefits and are now concerned their W-2s are wrong...
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit ....and there won’t be time to correct them before taxes are due on April 15. Chair Alisha Bell said they’re working to fix it. Discussing clear cut-offs for fiscal year. New ORACLE system will allow them to create dashboards and do analytics which will be helpful to fix it.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit They will be revisiting chargebacks, and hope/plan to do analytics with the new ORACLE system so they don't run into these problems. Concludes discussion of item 1 on agenda.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit No emails received for public comment. Call for PUBLIC COMMENT (sadly, none). Motion to adjourn at 10:31 a.m.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Today's discussion was with representatives from the Department of Management & Budget on Budget Adjustment No. 2024-35-302 and compliance with Public Act 2 of 1968, the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act which you may find here: legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objec…
legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objec…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit The budget adjustment as discussed was made, in part, due to the new systems and the Oct. 2 cyber attack. Specifically, the act (law) refers to annual financial reports, uniform budgeting systems, and inhibits budget deficits by local units of government (i.e. Wayne County).
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit This meeting convenes on the 7th floor of the Guardian Bldg., by Zoom, by phone, and on YouTube (live), and they meet generally twice a month but once in December. Again, the next committee meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2025.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit The Wayne County Audit Committee Members are Melissa Daub (Chair), David Knezek (Vice Chair), Alex Garza, Tim Killeen, and Allen R. Wilson. Alisha R. Bell is Chairperson of the Wayne County Commission, whilst Pamela Fordham is the Director.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit The Detroit Documenters report on the Commissioners work regularly. You may view all reporting on the Wayne County Commissioners here: detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit ⛔IMPORTANT⛔ If you believe anything in this coverage is inaccurate, please email 📩 documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line. For more Detroit Documenters coverage on this agency or others, please visit detroit.documenters.org .
detroit.documenters.org
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit This concludes live reporting today for the Wayne County Audit Committee from me, a Detroit Documenter. Detroit Documenters can be found on BlueSky at @detdocumenters.bsky.social and I can be found here or at @detroitjcs.bsky.social.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit @DetDocumenters FYI: This meeting began recording at item C on the agenda (approval of Feb. 26, 2025 minutes) and there was no item D (unfinished business). The speakers for item E (new business, item E1) were Yogesh Gusani, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Wayne County Management and Budget &
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit @DetDocumenters ...Deputy Budget Director McIntyre, also of the Office of Management and Budget. At the Ways & Means meeting held Feb. 20, 2025 a memo was asked to be prepared by Chair Daub to further discuss and provide context for the budget adjustment 2024-35-302.
@BridgeDet313 @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @outliermedia @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit Website: “This committee reviews reports of the independent Office of Legislative Auditor General and monitors compliance with the findings.”
Attachments
4 attachments
Agency Information
Wayne County Commission
The Wayne County Commission and its employees are the legislative branch of county government. The chief role of the commission is to adopt a budget and enact ordinances. The commission also approves contracts, appointments and rules. The money is spent and ordinances are enforced through the administrative branch. The $1.5 billion budget runs the county operations that serve the more than 1.8 million people living in Wayne County.
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