PODCAST:
August 10, 2026 ~ Five Oakland County communities rejected police and fire millages during last week’s election. Mike Bouchard discusses what the results could mean for public safety services and local budgets.
OAKLAND COUNTY, MICH. ~ Brandon, Highland, Independence, Orion and Waterford township voters turned down eight millages aimed at funding police or fire departments in the Aug. 4 election.
“It’s fatigue with taxes. There are a number of taxes that were brand-new kinds of taxes that were also on the ballot. And when you pile all those together, they’re like, ‘Okay, I’m just voting no on every tax,'” Oakland County Sheriff Bouchard said on All Talk.
In a second push, Orion township is sending renewals to the November ballot while other townships have called emergency meetings to discuss next steps as the rejections are leaving some communities with no options to pay critical public safety employees going forward.
These rejections could also mean reduced staffing and deputies at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and substations, along with longer response times, according to Bouchard.
