DC-4 19-0581 Resolution Providing FY20 Budget Policy Direction Consistent with the Results of the Community Survey on the Recommended Allocation of the 2017 Washtenaw County Mental Health and Public Safety Millage Proceeds of $2.2M Annually
I was a survey recipient. The survey design made it basically worthless. That's because it provided no information on current levels of funding for the various options, so we had no context in which to rank our priorities for spending the millage rebate money. So using the survey results to set actual spending is a mistake. And even if the survey had been perfectly designed, policy-by-survey is not how government is supposed to work. We elect our representatives to make unpopular decisions (when necessary) as well as popular ones.
I strongly oppose resolution 19-0581 introduced by Council member Lumm. A resolution to allocate the rebate portion of the millage according to the results of a small 2019 community survey, rather than continuing to honor the multiple Council resolutions that guided voter behavior and community support for the millage in 2017. Council member Lumm’s new resolution would redirect much needed funding away from pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and climate action based on the responses of the small sample of surveyed residents.
DC-4 adds complexity and provides limited funding for multiple unrelated budget targets, some of which already have millage support. I do not see the allocations as contributing to effective use of resources in the context of making a positive difference in budget outcomes.
This resolution seems more like an April Fools joke. We elect representatives to lead, not to base policy on surveys.
I was a survey recipient. The survey design made it basically worthless. That's because it provided no information on current levels of funding for the various options, so we had no context in which to rank our priorities for spending the millage rebate money. So using the survey results to set actual spending is a mistake. And even if the survey had been perfectly designed, policy-by-survey is not how government is supposed to work. We elect our representatives to make unpopular decisions (when necessary) as well as popular ones.
I strongly oppose resolution 19-0581 introduced by Council member Lumm. A resolution to allocate the rebate portion of the millage according to the results of a small 2019 community survey, rather than continuing to honor the multiple Council resolutions that guided voter behavior and community support for the millage in 2017. Council member Lumm’s new resolution would redirect much needed funding away from pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and climate action based on the responses of the small sample of surveyed residents.
DC-4 adds complexity and provides limited funding for multiple unrelated budget targets, some of which already have millage support. I do not see the allocations as contributing to effective use of resources in the context of making a positive difference in budget outcomes.