Delivering Results for Bloomfield Township

When Walsh was elected Bloomfield Township Supervisor in 2020, Bloomfield Township was facing a crisis of a massive budget deficit and community distrust of local government. In her four years in office, not only did Walsh reduce the budget deficit, but she did so without raising the tax rate on residents. Instead, Walsh focused on updating and investing in technology, better business practices, smart investments, and creating the Capital Reserves Fund to avoid future crises. This enabled the Township to successfully bring back services and return staffing levels in multiple departments including Police, Fire, Engineering, DPW, PBO, Assessing, Cable, and Senior Services to pre-2008/2009 recession cuts and pre-2019 budget crisis cuts. She also changed the Township’s short-term budgeting from a 1-year focus to a 5-year focus. 

As Supervisor, Walsh worked with department heads to determine what new technologies existed in their fields and industries to re-envision their departments as structures, policies, and procedures had not changed for many decades. A lack of technology meant that many departments were still paper-based in 2020. This led to inefficiencies and long wait times. Permit reviews, for example, used to take 6-8 weeks but now take less than two. Additionally, the Township has contracted services with consultants to prevent backlogs when inspection staff is on vacation or out sick. The Township also only accepted cash and checks as payments with no online option for paying items like taxes and water bills. This was not only inconvenient for residents, but it was also inefficient. She also modernized equipment for inspectors and field staff who were working without smartphone capabilities.

Bloomfield Township passed a new public safety millage in 2022 which allowed the township to hire additional Firefighters and Police Officers, as well as bring in technology and new equipment to improve resources and response on medical calls, fires, and police situations. In 2019 there were only 62 patrol officers and 87 total in the police department. Walsh added positions bringing the number up to 67 patrol officer positions and 95 total in the department, as well as contracting with 3 social workers. Today, the township has the largest number of officers in 16 years. A peer support group was also added for officers to help them work through challenging calls or life situations. Likewise, in 2019 there were only 17 firefighters per station house with a minimum of 15, which meant that an ambulance or fire engine  was out of service due to staff shortages. By 2024 Walsh added positions to have 20 firefighters per station and a higher minimum of 17 per station house, guaranteeing that all equipment is always in service.

Walsh has worked with state and federal leaders and other entities to secure millions in grants and to improve infrastructure. These funds have been used to purchase a Special Operations and Rescue (SOAR) vehicle and turnout gear for the fire department, new technology in the Emergency Operations Center, police communication improvements, the sidewalk and pedestrian crossovers on Telegraph north of Square Lake, and more. Walsh also effectively worked with MDOT leadership to save the Square Lake exit ramp, protecting a major artery for Bloomfield residents and business owners, as well as the surrounding communities. Walsh worked with SMART directly to get Bloomfield Township and West Bloomfield added to the SMARTer Mobility expansion plan. Walsh’s involvement on SMART’s technical plan committee allowed Bloomfield Township to be added as a Flex Service option, gave the township a grant for a new SMART shuttle for the senior center transportation program, and added bus stops and shelters. 

Contracted with national consulting firm BerryDunn to engage residents, employees, business owners, education providers, faith-based leaders, service providers, and the Board of Trustees to build the vision, mission, and goals of Bloomfield Township in order to create the 5-year Strategic Plan as well as a road map of how to implement the plan successfully. BerryDunn stated that the Bloomfield Township community as a whole had the highest engagement levels they had seen since Covid. Having this plan will assure that the Board of Trustees stays focused on the needs and wants of the community as a whole in order to guarantee that we stay true to the vision and mission in all decisions at the board level.