A proposed $269.8 million Oakland County road budget includes zero construction projects in Farmington or Farmington Hills, and residents can speak up at a public hearing Thursday, Aug. 20.
The Road Commission for Oakland County will present the fiscal year 2027 budget at 2 p.m. at its administrative offices, 31001 Lahser Road in Beverly Hills. The RCOC Board is expected to adopt the budget at its Sept. 17 meeting.
The proposed spending plan represents a 40% jump over the current year's $193.4 million budget, a $76.4 million increase driven largely by new state road-funding legislation enacted in October 2025. Yet neither Farmington nor Farmington Hills appears anywhere on the 2027 Road Improvement Program construction list.
That's a sharp contrast to the current year. The adopted 2026 budget included three Farmington Hills projects totaling $15.7 million: two segments of 12 Mile Road ($3.4 million and $10.8 million) and a 10 Mile Road culvert replacement over the Rouge River ($1.5 million).
The 2027 plan directs $81.7 million in construction spending to communities including Novi, Wixom, Waterford Township, Bloomfield Hills, Southfield and Pontiac. The single largest project is a $33.2 million widening of 12 Mile Road from Beck Road to Dixon Road in Wixom and Novi, expanding the corridor from two lanes to a four-lane boulevard.
RCOC Board Chairman Eric McPherson said in an Aug. 12 statement that the budget "represents our concerted effort to continue to provide better, safer roads."
The RCOC said in its budget announcement that project selections often happen years in advance based on safety reviews, road-condition assessments and engineering analysis.
City-led projects still on track
Farmington Hills does have road work planned for 2027, but through a separate funding stream. Director of Public Services Jacob Rushlow told the City Council at a May 5 budget study session that two Farmington Road projects are planned: the 10-to-12 Mile segment and the 13-to-14 Mile segment. Both are city-led and funded through the Federal Aid Committee formula, which provides 80% federal money and a 20% local match. These do not appear in the RCOC budget.
Farmington Hills also invested roughly $30 million in city-funded road and infrastructure work during the 2026 construction season, according to a city announcement, drawing on federal grants and its 2018 and 2024 road millages.
RCOC has jurisdiction over more than 2,700 miles of county roads but has no taxing authority of its own.
The proposed budget is available for review at rcocweb.org under "Financials," then "RCOC Budget Summary," then "2026-27 Budget as Presented." Residents who cannot attend Thursday's hearing can contact the RCOC through its website.
