Washtenaw County officials say they’re closely monitoring the federal government shutdown and its potential impacts on service delivery at the local level.
ANN ARBOR, MI – Washtenaw County officials say they’re closely monitoring the federal government shutdown and its potential impacts on service delivery at the local level.
“Washtenaw County government continues to monitor the ‘shutdown’ of the federal government, caused by Congress’ failure to pass, and the president’s failure to sign, a continuing resolution,” County Board Chairman Andy LaBarre, D-Ann Arbor, said in a statement.
As in past shutdowns, LaBarre said the county’s administration and senior staff have prepared a communication to the board of commissioners, outlining the potential impacts.
“Some county programs are already funded with resources previously allocated,” LaBarre said. “However, many of Washtenaw County’s programs are very dependent on federal funding. If the shutdown is brief, staff does not anticipate dramatic impacts on county government and the services it provides its citizens, but the longer the shutdown goes, the greater the impact will be. Washtenaw County will continue to monitor this situation. We remain hopeful for a quick resolution to this failure at the federal governmental level.”
Andrea Plevek, director of the county’s Office of Community and Economic Development, sent an email to county commissioners and other county officials late Friday afternoon, Jan. 19.
“The good news is that the majority of federal programs OCED operates are running on resources that have already been allocated or for which we will likely be able to cover the payments for in the short term,” Plevek wrote, noting the following:
