PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wesley Prater (734) 476-4987 or Kristin Judge
(734) 646-2088
Washtenaw County Commissioners Wesley
Prater and Kristin Judge announce
“Coffee with my Commissioner”
January 1, 2011 - Washtenaw County,
MI – County Commissioners Prater and Judge are preparing for the
upcoming budget year. One important part of the planning is to
gather information from the taxpayers. “With another budget
deficit in 2012-2013, cuts will need to be made. We want to
start the conversation with residents now to help lead us in the
right direction,” said Prater.
Prater and Judge served on the board for the last budget cut of $30
million. The board was able to save jobs and programs with the
help of the staff taking pay cuts and finding other efficiencies in
the organization. Funding for non-profits was also decreased
in the 2010-2011 budget. Commissioners cut $30,000 from a
$50,000 budget for mileage, per diem and travel expenses during that
same period.
“Input from the people paying the bills is going to be critical, and
we need to start getting that input now. Commissioner Prater
and I have been advocating for transparency and community input for
the past two years. Residents feedback about the Open Book
eWashtenaw transparency website was very positive when we went
door-to-door in the last campaign.”
Starting January 13th, 2011, Commissioners Prater and Judge will be
available in their communities from 10am-11am to speak to residents
who want to drop in. The Commissioners will be available every
second Thursday of the month at this time with the exception of July
and August.
Commissioner Prater will meet with residents at Leo’s Coney Island
located at 1342 Anna J. Stepp Dr., Ypsilanti, MI just off South
Huron Street. Commissioner Judge will meet with residents at
Harvest Moon Café located at 5484 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti,
MI. Times and locations will be on the commissioner’s websites
at ewashtenaw.org. There is no need to schedule a visit.
Residents are encouraged to just drop in.