The Arab American News has taken a position on five Wayne County ballot proposals only residents of the county will have the opportunity to vote on in the Nov. 6 general election. The proposals could amend sections of the Wayne County Home Rule Charter. 

One of the proposals is an attempt to get Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano removed from office. Details on the proposals are provided below.  The Arab American News’ position on each proposal has been checked off. 

(1) Wayne County Charter Amendment proposal to change the membership of the Wayne County Retirement Commission 

Background and Summary 

The Wayne County Employees Retirement System is governed by the Wayne County Retirement Commission, which is sometimes called the board of trustees. The board currently consists of 8 members: the county executive or their designee; the chair of the Wayne County Commission; four members elected among current county employees; and two members elected among current county retirees. Employees of the Wayne County Airport Authority, which was created by state legislation in the early 2000s as an entity separate from Wayne County, are currently participants in the retirement system but cannot vote for board members or run for positions on the board.

If approved by voters, the amendment will make the following changes: expand the Retirement Commission from 8 members to 9, by adding the Wayne County Treasurer or their designee; allow the chair of the Wayne County Commission the option of appointing a  designee to the Retirement Commission and allow employees and retirees of the Airport Authority to vote for and serve as board members.

Here’s how the proposal will appear on the ballot: 

Shall section 6.112 of the Wayne County Home Rule Charter be amended to expand the Wayne County retirement commission’s membership from 8 to 9, adding as a member the Wayne County Treasurer, or his or her designee; and also to authorize the chairperson of the Wayne County Commission, who is also a member of the Wayne County retirement commission, to appoint a person to serve as his or her designee on the retirement commission; and to further allow employees and retirees of the Wayne County airport authority to vote for and serve as members of the Wayne County retirement commission (with no more than one member being an airport employee or retiree) until such time as the airport authority establishes its own retirement system or pension plan. 

(2) Wayne County Charter Amendment proposal to give the Governor authority to remove the Wayne County Executive from office

Background and Summary 

State law gives the Governor the authority to remove from office, for cause and with due process, countywide elected officials throughout the state, including the sheriff, clerk, treasurer, prosecuting attorney and register of deeds. State law does not specify that the Governor may remove an elected county executive. 

If approved by voters, it is uncertain what effect this amendment would have without the Governor also being given this authority by state law.

Here’s how the proposal will appear on the ballot: 

Shall the Wayne County Home rule charter be amended to add section 4.124 to authorize the governor to remove the Wayne County executive from office for the same reasons and with the same due process as provided by law for the sheriff, prosecuting attorney, county clerk, register of deeds and county treasurer? 

(3) Wayne County Charter Amendment proposal to give the Wayne County Commission authority to approve compensation for county employees 

Background and Summary 

Compensation, including salary and benefits, for some county employees is set by the executive branch. The Wayne County Commission already approves compensation for all union employees, by virtue of its voted approval of collective bargaining agreements. If approved by voters, the amendment would require approval by the county commission for all compensation of all county positions, except when the compensation is established in law.

Here’s how the proposal will appear on the ballot: 

Shall section 3.115 of the Wayne County Home Rule Charter, which sets forth the powers and duties of the Wayne County commission, be amended to include the power and duty to approve all compensation of every employment position in the county, unless the compensation is established by state or federal law? 

(4) Wayne County Charter Amendment proposal to change limitations on external auditors contracted to provide reports on Wayne County finances 

Background and Summary

Wayne County contracts with an external auditing firm to conduct an annual audit of the county’s finances. Currently, a firm cannot perform this service for more than eight consecutive years, forcing the county to rotate external auditors it uses. If approved by voters, the amendment would eliminate the eight-year limit and use the requirements and procedures for contracting the external auditor detailed in the county’s procurement ordinance, which sets rules for contracting and purchasing.

Here’s how the proposal will appear on the ballot: 

Shall section 3.119 (E) of the Wayne County Home Rule Charter be amended to remove the restriction that prohibits an independent external auditor from providing audit services to the county for more than eight consecutive years, and further to require independent external auditors be selected based on a competitive process in accordance with the county’s procurement ordinance? 

VOTE NO

(5) Wayne County Charter Amendment proposal to have the Wayne County Commission determine the format of the county budget

Background and Summary 

The Wayne County budget is created each year by the administration of the Wayne County Executive in the form of an appropriation ordinance, which is submitted to the Wayne County Commission for scrutiny and approval. Currently, the administration determines what format the budget takes. Formats usually range from, but are not limited to, lump-sum to line-item budgets. Lump-sum budgets allocate funding to departments in one amount, and leave it to that department to stay within that amount, however it decides to spend the money. A line-item budget is more specific about how money is allocated within each department. If approved by voters, the amendment will have the Wayne County Commission determine in what format the administration will present the budget. Specifically, the commission will decide by Dec. 7 what format the budget will take going forward. If the commission ever decides to change that format in the future, it would have to be done at least 10 months before the start of the next fiscal year.

Here’s how the proposal appears on the ballot: 

Shall the Wayne County Home Rule Charter be amended to add a new section 5.120 and to amend existing section 5.134 to authorize the Wayne County Commission rather than the Wayne County executive to establish the form (including but not limited to lump-sum and line-item) of the county budget and appropriation ordinance; and to require the county commission to establish the form of the budget and appropriation ordinance by Dec. 7, 2012 and to adopt changes to the form at least 10 months before the beginning of a fiscal year to be effective for that fiscal year; and to also amend section 5.121 to require the county executive to prepare and submit the budget and appropriation ordinance in the form established by the commission.