Washtenaw County, You're Perfect (So Says Southeast Michigan Council of Government)

Royal Oak received a perfect fiscal score in 2013, according to information released Tuesday by the Southeast Michigan Council of Government.

“This rating is a testament to a local government’s fiscal strength as well as to the diligence and perseverance that elected leaders and other community officials have exhibited over several very challenging years,” SEMCOG Executive Director Kathleen Lomako said in a release.

In all, 18 cities were ranked as “fiscally perfect.” They are:

Oakland County: Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Lyon Township, Huntington Woods, Orchard Lake, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak and Oakland Township

Wayne County: Northville Township

Macomb County: Macomb Township

Livingston County: Brighton and Green Oak townships

Washtenaw County: Dexter, Lima Township and Washtenaw County

Monroe County: Bedford Township

The communities were judged in 10 categories:

• Population
• Taxable value growth
• General fund expenditures
• Operating results (in 2013, 2012 and 2011)
• Size of available fund balance for one year
• Size of available fund balance for three years
• Major fund deficit
• Debt as a percent of taxable value.

Results for 2014 haven’t been tabulated.