Last Thursday, Oakland County Board Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) and Minority Caucus Chair Michael Spisz (R-Oxford) announced a plan, in collaboration with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter (D-Ferndale), to support state legislation that would establish a uniform financial disclosure policy. Further, the legislation would authorize counties to implement the policy, and such disclosures would be required for county elected officials and candidates for county office.
Coulter proposed a county financial disclosure policy in October. Since that time, the Board has explored implementing a financial disclosure policy for county elected officials and top county officials. As part of this process, county leaders learned that the county lacks statutory and constitutional authority to require it.??
With broad bipartisan support, the Board approved a measure to support the legislative strategy to call on the Michigan State Legislature and the governor to establish a uniform financial disclosure policy??
“We were disappointed to learn we do not have the legal authority to adopt an enforceable financial disclosure policy for county officials and for candidates running for county office,” said Woodward, who introduced the financial disclosure policy proposed by Executive Coulter. “I applaud the commissioners’ bipartisan efforts to try and advance a proposal, but it is clear a change in state law is required in order to have meaningful financial disclosure for elected officials.”
“Based on the information available to the Board of Commissioners at this time, it makes sense to step back and take another approach,” said Spisz. “Releasing a fiscal disclosure policy that was voluntary, with no requirements or penalty, and minimal to no impact does not make sense to me.?Placing a request with the state legislature and the governor is the most prudent thing to do at this time.”
“I will work with the Board of Commissioners to encourage the Legislature to give county governments clear statutory authority to enact mandatory, enforceable financial disclosure policies for all county elected officials,” Coulter said. “But we know how slowly things can move in Lansing, and I’m not going to wait for the legislature to act. My senior staff and I will post personal financial disclosure forms on my webpage by Jan. 15, 2026, and I will work with the Board in the new year on additional measures to further strengthen public trust in county government.”
For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit OakGov.com/BOC
Coulter proposed a county financial disclosure policy in October. Since that time, the Board has explored implementing a financial disclosure policy for county elected officials and top county officials. As part of this process, county leaders learned that the county lacks statutory and constitutional authority to require it.??
With broad bipartisan support, the Board approved a measure to support the legislative strategy to call on the Michigan State Legislature and the governor to establish a uniform financial disclosure policy??
“We were disappointed to learn we do not have the legal authority to adopt an enforceable financial disclosure policy for county officials and for candidates running for county office,” said Woodward, who introduced the financial disclosure policy proposed by Executive Coulter. “I applaud the commissioners’ bipartisan efforts to try and advance a proposal, but it is clear a change in state law is required in order to have meaningful financial disclosure for elected officials.”
“Based on the information available to the Board of Commissioners at this time, it makes sense to step back and take another approach,” said Spisz. “Releasing a fiscal disclosure policy that was voluntary, with no requirements or penalty, and minimal to no impact does not make sense to me.?Placing a request with the state legislature and the governor is the most prudent thing to do at this time.”
“I will work with the Board of Commissioners to encourage the Legislature to give county governments clear statutory authority to enact mandatory, enforceable financial disclosure policies for all county elected officials,” Coulter said. “But we know how slowly things can move in Lansing, and I’m not going to wait for the legislature to act. My senior staff and I will post personal financial disclosure forms on my webpage by Jan. 15, 2026, and I will work with the Board in the new year on additional measures to further strengthen public trust in county government.”
For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit OakGov.com/BOC
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