Detroit 2025-2026 budget hearings: What you need to know

Date: March 12, 2025

Proposed budget: $6,785,845

Number of employees: 21

What’s new this year:

• The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) plans to expand to 25 full-time employees.
• New funding will go toward Enhanced Risk Management (ERM) to fully comply with the office’s charter-mandated responsibilities, for which they don’t yet have the resources.
• New funding will enable OAG to respond quickly to new situations as they come up, including Council special requests.
  

Things to watch:

• OAG is reviewing its roles and responsibilities for the Fire Cost Recovery Review Committee and Police Cost Recovery Review Committee.
• The Tow Rate Commission (TRC) proposed new rates, which were approved by City Council in February and take effect July 1; a review of the rates is planned at least every two years.
• Competitive bids for a new external auditor will be sought in April.

Other things to note:

• Renovations to OAG offices have been completed, and include room for an expansion to 25 full-time employees.
• Claims against the city by residents for water damage do not go to the Law Department, and therefore appeals of denials do not go to the Auditor General.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

– Paul Enns, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 13

Proposed budget: $5,000,000 (this is DLBA’s subsidy from the City, not the DLBA’s full budget)

What’s new this year: 

• The city’s subsidy to DLBA cut $5.5 million or 52%. This does not account for the entire DLBA budget. Nevertheless, DLBA’s director says the reduction “will cause a shift away from our current mission-based programming to a more market-based approach.” 
• City officials explain that the DLBA’s current surplus is $52 million. They believe DLBA can maintain services without cutting into the budget. The city plans to ramp the subsidy back up once the DLBA spends down some of its fund balance.
• Property sales by the DLBA spiked after 2014, dropped between 2021 and 2023, and rose again in 2024.

Things to watch:

• Will DLBA follow through with cuts to services, or will they maintain services by spending down their surplus? Possible cuts mentioned include:
  • Cutting $4 million in lot maintenance services (from a budget of $4.5 million)
  • Move away from practice of selling side lots below market value
  • Eliminate programming, counseling and financial planning for unauthorized occupants of homes
  • Reduce or eliminate live customer service agents who help field 4,400 customer service calls a month
  • Reduce the pace of nuisance abatement lawsuits and complaints (there are 500 open nuisance abatement lawsuits and that department has 13 FTE)
• The DLBA reconveyance rate is currently 14% (i.e., DLBA reclaims that percentage of properties after selling them). Councilmember Mary Waters is critical of this.
• Increasing property values boosted the DLBA’s bottom line. “We have been in the black in the last five years, (our fund balance) significantly increased in 2022,” said Reginald Scott, the DLBA’s chief financial officer.

Other things to note: 

• DLBA is the largest land bank in the country by far (~64,000 parcels), according to its directors. It claims that the idea of winding it down is unrealistic, despite calls from several council members and commenters to that end.
• 82% of DLBA buyers are Detroit residents, far more than the proportion of Wayne County Tax Auction buyers.
• DLBA is planning a parcel fair for 800 lots in Brightmoor. James Tate is concerned that this will overwhelm residents. What percentage of those are side lots or will be available to neighbors?

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 13

Proposed budget: $5,500,000

Number of employees: 39 FTE

What’s new this year:

• The department will spend much of this year drafting its new master plan, including various public comment opportunities, with the final plan to be introduced and adopted in mid-2026
• Neighborhood planning efforts are completed or in process this year for Grixdale Farms, Brightmoor, Fenkell Ave. Corridor, and Denby/Whittier. Other key planning efforts surround the redesign of I-375 and the neighborhoods connected to the Joe Louis Greenway, a circular recreational pathway that will connect parks and neighborhoods around the central city.
• The department processed more than 600 Historic District Commission applications — requests for permits to work on properties in historic areas. That’s an increase of 25% from 2023.
  

Things to watch:

• The department is looking into a new historic preservation plan that could lead to expanded historic areas in the city; its budget presentation notes that many historic buildings in the city are located outside the current boundaries of historic areas
• A draft of Brightmoor’s neighborhood framework plan is already published. The deadline for feedback on the plan is April 2, 2025. Submit feedback here.
• Department Director Alexa Bush says, “We have begun work that will continue through this fiscal year and into 2026 on the I-375 framework plan.” She emphasizes collaboration with HUD but doesn’t go into specifics on the plan, noting only that it involves turning the freeway into a ground-level boulevard. Plans for this project have been previously altered in the face of public criticism. 

Other things to note: 

• The department reviewed 70 proposed architectural designs for development projects in the city in the last year
• The department oversaw 15 Tier 1 Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO) projects since 2017. It has held 110 CBO meetings; more than 2,000 residents have participated in the process; 131 residents have served on Neighborhood Advisory Councils (NAC). Edwina King, associate director of legislative affairs and equitable development, noted that NAC members aren’t always subject matter experts prepared to go toe-to-toe with developers and emphasized the need to support members with training.
• Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero cited our article about potential improvements to the CBO during the hearing. The Department staff person who responded to Santiago-Romero’s question said she’d check out Outlier’s article.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 14

Proposed budget: $51,810,922
Number of employees: 284.50

What’s new this year: 

• A few highlights: The health department opened a full-service satellite clinic at the Samaritan Center. Seven new neighborhood wellness centers at churches offer health screenings. The department collected more than 6,300 survey responses and conducted focus groups to ID community health needs. The completed report will be out in June.
• The Too Cool for Drugs engagement program contacted 1,400 youth in schools with anti-drug messaging on vaping, marijuana and illicit drugs.
• Rides to Care, which offers Detroiters who are pregnant and anyone who takes care of an infant free rides for postpartum and pediatric visits, scheduled 5,329 rides and assisted 664 Detroiters.

Things to watch: 

• The Continuing Community Violence Intervention will continue this year with $4.3M in remaining federal funding. (What happens after that?) 
• What happens if Medicaid and other federally funded medical services are cut? Department Director Denise Fair-Razo says it is developing “contingency plans.” However, the department itself relies heavily on federal funding.
• Councilmember Durhal plans to push for an additional $2.3 million for gun violence prevention during the executive budget session.

Other things to note: 

• Councilmember Johnson says she’ll propose funding for expanding Rx Kids, a direct cash assistance program for families during pregnancy and the first year of infancy, to Detroit. Rx Kids already operates in Flint, Kalamazoo, Pontiac and the eastern Upper Peninsula. The estimated cost is $50 million. Philanthropy covers 70% of the cost, per Johnson.
• The health department distributed 4,300 Detroit ID cards, which provide official identification to residents regardless of legal residency status. The department is confident it has what it needs to continue the program. Santiago-Romero said a Detroit police officer called ICE after being presented a Detroit ID by a resident on March 14, the morning of this hearing, and called ICE. She said city workers need additional training on Detroit ID, which does not indicate immigration status.
• The department currently has 4 full-time employees handling opioid crisis response

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 13

Proposed budget: $77,226,255

Number of employees: 221

What’s new this year:

• Proposing 221 employees for the 2026 budget, up from 169. 
• Proposing funding for Homelessness Services increases to $8.4 million this year, up from $6 million. There is also additional grant funding.
• The Housing and Revitalization Department currently administers about $606 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and other one-time federal grants. 46% of the department’s funding comes from the general fund and the other 54% is funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  

Things to watch:

• There’s been a recent expansion of homeless services, including a 24-hour street outreach team, an additional 278 shelter beds, two new immediate shelter drop-in centers with 110 beds that the city says accepts any unsheltered individual and did not turn anyone away.
• Housing Director Julie Schneider said that since 2018, 62% of the housing that the department has created has been for households with incomes between zero and 50% of the Area Median Income. (At 50% AMI, that was $47,950 for a family of four in 2024). “I want to emphasize that because we believe it’s really critical to develop housing across the income spectrum, but we certainly know that we have to really focus our efforts to build as much housing at lower rents as possible,” Schnieder said.
• The mayor’s budget proposes $5.4 million for home repairs — including 0% interest home repair loans, senior home repair and matching dollars for lead hazard mitigation.

Other things to note: 

• Over the past few years, Schnieder says the department has connected 50,000 Detroiters to 15 resource assistance programs such as the Detroit Housing Network CAM, Detroit Tax Relief Fund, utility assistance and down payment assistance. She also said the department placed more than 1,200 residents in permanent housing through case management services.
• The department listed its department divisions as: Administration and Finance, Development and Investment, Housing Stability Solutions, Home Repair and Neighborhood Services and Department and Programmatic Operations.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 12

Proposed budget: $641,919

Number of employees: 4

What’s new this year:

• The board has secured a contract with a court reporter instead of paying per meeting. A court reporter transcribes each meeting, and transcripts are available for the public to view on a computer at the board’s office. Transcripts are available at a cost of $6.75 per page. This contract with a court reporter caused an almost $13,000 cost reduction for the budget. James Ribbron, director of the Board of Zoning Appeals, recommends that different departments share court reporters instead of hiring their own to further reduce cost for each department.
• The proposed budget for 2026 is less than 1% higher than the current year.
  

Things to watch:

• The board has set a goal to receive and complete 100 Building and Safety cases annually. According to Ribbron, as of March 12, they’ve had 48 cases and are on track to meet expected revenues.
• Ribbron said it can take three to six months to go through the Buildings Safety and Engineering process before a zoning case comes before the appeals board. He said it’s the last step before heading to circuit court and that the board decides on variance requests within 30 days.

Other things to note:

• Recordings and transcripts of proceedings are available to the public at a computer at the board’s front desk.
• Ribbron says the board participates in the Zone Detroit process with the City Planning Commission to figure out ways to improve zoning ordinances. 
• Council and Ribbron did not spend much time discussing the actual budget but instead talked a lot about zoning and BZA’s process.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 12

Proposed budget: $1 million

Number of employees: 70 

What’s new this year: 

• Twenty new exhibits have been opened at the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum with the help of transitional funding from the state. 
• Sensory rooms are being built at both the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, an extension of being the first Detroit-area facilities to be recognized as Certified Autism Centers. 
• Per Vice President of Education and Outreach Rodney Deal, DHS has connected with more Detroiters and collaborated with Detroit youth through various programs. It proposes adding a student council to the Detroit Historical Museum. 

Things to watch:

• Millage update: The Michigan House and Senate passed bills that would allow DHS to put a millage request to voters. The governor is expected to sign House Bills 4177, 5817 and 5818, but a clerical error has delayed their arrival on her desk.
• Potential staff cuts: Transitional funding was not provided by the state for this year. A request for funding has been submitted for this upcoming 2026 fiscal year, but President and CEO Elana Rugh said she is worried there won’t be any state funding for DHS at all in the future, and they are about 18 months out from receiving any millage dollars. Without funding, DHS may have to cut down staffing as it did earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Revenue projections: Earned revenue from admissions, tour fees and other sources are expected in the next budget cycle to bring in nearly $1 million — about $600,000 more than fiscal year 2019. 

Other things to note: 

• DHS was unable to spend $600,000 of the $1 million allocated in fiscal 2024 due to delays in the memorandum of understanding. Payment was not received for various projects until September and October, so few projects went uncompleted. 
• There is a projected $5 million revenue stream beginning in fiscal year 2027, assuming the governor signs the millage bill, and voters pass it. If that doesn’t happen, DHS plans staff cuts and reduced museum hours. The historical society has also reached out to partnering companies for funding to sustain itself until millage funds can be acquired. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

-Nia Harris, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 12 

Proposed budget: $1.2 million

Number of employees: 350 full-time and part-time employees; 500-plus volunteers yearly

What’s new this year:

• Discovery Trails — a 7-acre habitat offering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning opportunities — is coming to the Detroit Zoo. 
• The new mobile app ReBokeh will help visitors with blindness or low vision access animal exhibits at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. 
• The Detroit Zoo welcomed 5 new species in 2024. In August, it witnessed its first on-site birth of a gorilla.
  

Things to watch: 

• Members of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) have acknowledged that the Detroit Zoo is vulnerable to infrastructural damage. Geographic information system (GIS) monitoring will be used to identify areas where sinkholes could develop. 
• The DZS brings on about 500 new volunteers annually and ensures that volunteers, interns and potential employees have access to career opportunities. 
• Coyotes will be introduced to the Belle Isle Nature Center as part of an urban wildlife educational experience. 

Other things to note: 

• An active volunteer base can be used to help the Detroit Zoo offset staffing challenges. Volunteer tour guides are tasked with assisting older visitors. 
• DZS offers valuable educational experiences to the community and has many community partners including Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Students 14 and older can receive training in the conservation sciences per recommendation from their schools. 
• DZS is requesting $3.1 million from the city — more than twice the $1.2 million the mayor proposes. This year’s allocation was more than $2.4 million.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Yasmin Siddiqui, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 14

Proposed budget: $11,228,482

Number of employees: 69

What’s new this year:

• Food sovereignty was discussed several times in the form of urban agriculture, agrivoltaics (urban farming alongside solar arrays) and the new animal keeping ordinance.
• Zones with ShotStoppers community violence intervention (CVI) programs have seen dramatic decreases in violent incidents, and five of the six organizations that were contracted with were awarded continuing funding.  
• Various modalities of integrated response resources have been added to assist in crisis intervention, de-escalation and connection to mental health services.
  

Things to watch:

• Amid praise for their work, the Department of Neighborhoods is looking to add one full-time employee for each district to increase its reach in neighborhoods.
• Although electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Detroit is up 17%, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the existing EV charging technology.
• Concerns also were raised about resources to address community violence in District 4, where the contract with the previous ShotStoppers implementing organization was not renewed.

Other things to note:

• An ongoing discussion from other budget hearings continued in this one regarding the effectiveness of opening the budget hearing to public comments, citing a lack of clarity about the purpose.
• In response to a caller’s question about the city’s monitoring of white supremacist events, the Department of Homeland Security chair described how Detroit gathers and shares event data with other institutions.   
• While the recent floods in Southwest Detroit were mentioned as an example of emergency response, criticism of the response was avoided, with discussions focused on various roles and opportunities to strengthen partnerships.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Katy Carlson, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 17

Proposed budget: $175,108,260

Number of employees: 1,309 total, including 998 in fire suppression and 185 in ambulance service

What’s new this year:

• A community risk reduction tool went online in mid-2024 to track fire incidents across the city and coordinate resources accordingly.
• Businesses can resolve fire safety violations more easily through a self-inspection process that allows them to send in a photo of corrected issues instead of scheduling a follow up inspection.
• DFD is training its first class of paramedics since 1997 to help address a shortage of paramedics across the state

Things to watch:

• A nurse navigation program funded with $600,000 that was added to last year’s budget has yet to get started. Two vendors from Florida and Texas are competing for a contract. It would redirect non-emergency health calls to nurses and telehealth services.
• The average response time for high-priority Code I emergencies dropped by 45 seconds since 2022, reaching 7 minutes and 23 seconds in 2024.
• DFD has 14 aerial drones that help survey fire scenes. The department is hoping to acquire autonomous drones that automatically dispatch to a scene within 30 seconds and send information back to responders.

Other things to note:

• Structure fires decreased by 20% in 2024 compared to the previous year
• Chuck Simms, executive fire commissioner, said DFD received a $25 million budget increase over the last two years after preparing a cost analysis and meeting with the mayor’s budget team
• A fire prevention team inspected 5,002 structures last year, including 390 gas stations, 218 high rises, 193 schools, 75 senior and multi-family apartments and 18 recreation centers

Summary:

Overall response times are dropping and DFD achieved the fastest ambulance response average in the department’s history. Fire responses average 5 minutes and 39 seconds, while medical responses average 7 minutes and 18 seconds. Dispatchers responded to 158,000 emergencies last year.

The average fire station is 80 years old, so DFD is embarking on a plan to replace 20 of them in the next 10 years.

Aging buildings across the city carry elevated risk of electrical fires, elevator malfunctions and other safety hazards. There were 470 elevator entrapment incidents last year.

Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway voiced concerns about painted fire hydrants in her district. DFD officials said decorating hydrants can make them harder to find and the department is working to paint them the original red color.

Council Member Coleman Young II wants to explore how augmented reality could help DFD.

DFD is promoting installation of home smoke detectors through community events; there were 3,200 smoke detectors and 1,000 carbon monoxide detectors installed in 2024.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 17

Proposed budget: $209,155,060 total, including $7,450,000 to operate the People Mover

Number of employees: 1,200 total, including 690 bus operators

What’s new this year: 

• DDOT is replacing the Coolidge terminal where buses are repaired. A $160 million project, partly funded with state and federal grants, is halfway complete and expected to finish in 2026.
• A $2.9 million project to add 60 shelters with solar powered USB charging ports and accessible pads is underway. The budget includes $289,967 to expand the network of bus shelters. Council Member Fred Durhal III requested adding $4.5 million to the budget to install safe and accessible benches and shelters at every major bus stop. Council Member Scott Benson requested $300,000 to add shelters in District 3. 
• The East Jefferson corridor is receiving enhanced boarding platforms at 21 bus stops through a $4.8 million project meant to inform future rapid transit projects.
  

Things to watch:

• Ridership increased by 18% in 2024. Ridership increased in January, hitting 1 million compared to 740,000 rides last year. Reliability is the most important metric as the system continues to grow, said DDOT Director Robert Cramer. 
• Use of the paratransit service has grown too. The budget includes $2.4 million to allow users to book rides on the same day instead of having to reserve them earlier. The new service will be available in April or May. 
• DDOT is making progress toward hiring 690 transit operators, which helps put more buses on the street and improves reliability. There were 509 bus drivers working as of the hearing, a big increase from 367 in 2023. DDOT also increased its number of mechanics from 50 to 80.

Other things to note:

• A new safety department was created in the last year to track crashes and injuries and promote safety improvements. The goal is one crash per 100,000 miles driven. DDOT is considering bonuses for operators that don’t get into preventable crashes. 
• There are four all-electric buses in the fleet. DDOT is tracking their battery performance in cold temperatures. However, it takes 1.5 electric buses to provide as much service as a single diesel bus because diesel buses have longer range on a tank of gas and can be refueled much faster. 
• A $3 million renovation to Rosa Parks Transit Center is being planned, community outreach will start soon to get feedback and construction will start in 2026. The goal is to improve comfort, safety and security.
• Multiple council members advocated for offering free rides on Election Day. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 17

Proposed budget: $2,102,000 total, including $300,000 from the city of Detroit. The remaining funds come from Wayne County and the state of Michigan and revenue generated by the dock and events.

Number of employees: Six 

What’s new this year: 

• The Port Authority expects this year to fully separate a Master Concession Agreement with the Ambassador Port Company, owned by the Moroun family. This would help the Port Authority gain independence. 
• A feasibility study and market studies were completed to explore a new ferry service that would take visitors along the Detroit River. Dock improvements would be needed at Belle Isle and another location to begin testing the service, which could cost up to $1 million. A private company would be sought to run the service. 
• There are 70 cruise ships scheduled to stop in Detroit this summer, a large increase from 44 ships that used the cruise dock last year. 

Things to watch:

• The Port Authority is planning to build its own cargo dock. So far, $2.5 million has been raised from the state. The Authority will seek $19 million from the federal government, $1.5 million from Detroit and $1.5 million from Wayne County. 
• A decarbonization plan was completed last year with the goal of reducing emissions to become net-zero by 20240. Two EPA grants are allowing the Port Authority to build battery-operated electric port equipment and a new EV patrol boat. The Authority is studying the feasibility of a mobile power barge allowing cargo ships to unload using electricity. 
• Port Authority officials are unsure how the Trump administration’s trade wars will affect shipping, since most cargo subjected to tariffs is being carried across the bridge instead of waterways. But there are some goods, like steel and aluminum, that will be hit by tariffs. Another problem is a proposed 25% tax on ships built in China that bring cargo to the U.S. Most of the European fleet was built in China and under a third of Canadian cargo boats. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 20

Proposed budget: $2,091,489 for the DEGC

$2,500,000 to the EDC for the Motor City Match program, plus $306,000 for EDC staff and $200,000 for Entrepreneur Challenge Grants

The DDA does not receive a General Fund contribution; revenue comes from a property tax that created $3,275,000 for the previous fiscal year 

Number of employees: 72

What’s new this year: 

• A business development team relaunched a retention program last September which includes site visits of major employers, tracking referrals from workforce training programs and gauge interest in business expansion. 
• The Green Grocer Project supported nine small format neighborhood grocery stores in 2024 and expects to award three additional stores with grants in March. There are six new stores in the pipeline across five City Council districts. A bodega bootcamp launched in 2024 trained awardees in marketing, merchandising, bookkeeping and how to offer grab and go food items. 
• The first round of Detroit Legacy Business Project grants were awarded to 16 businesses that have operated for 30 years or more. One hundred legacy businesses were added to a registry to support marketing efforts. 

Things to watch: 

• There are 263 active tax breaks and half of them will expire by 2030. Officials are working to address a “cliff” of property taxes increasing when the abatements expire, most are for developments located downtown and midtown. 
• A $13 million grant will pay for the removal of one runway at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport to create 60 acres of developable land. The project is in early planning stages in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration. 
• The DEGC is working closely with the Council Member Mary Waters’ office to launch Next Up 313, an initiative to connect young aspiring entrepreneurs 18-30 years old to resources. 
• The DEGC is conducting a retail studies for Joy Road and African Town. 

Other things to note:

• Motor City Match has completed 27 funding rounds, putting $19.1 million in grants to support businesses. The grants have helped open 180 businesses. Grant recipients: 85% of awardees are minorities, 70% are women and 67% are Detroiters. 
• DEGC officials said three bedroom housing units are not in demand and incredibly hard to finance, as council members push for larger units for growing families. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit 

Date: March 14

Proposed budget: $3,695,674

• Media Services – $1,572,674
• Cable TV – $2,123,000

Number of employees: 36

• Media Services – 17
• Cable TV – 19

What’s new this year:

• The Media Services fiscal year 2026 budget creates the External Services division and Digital Media division. 
• Professional development: Media Services is prioritizing professional development, including hosting workshops and focusing on internal talent development.  
• The Engage Detroit homepage is being updated to be more engaging and informative for viewers.
  

Things to watch:

• Continued recruitment: Media Services currently has five open positions.
• Elimination, creation and restructuring of positions: Four positions were eliminated during organizational review and assessment.
• Media Services is prioritizing the hiring of a program coordinator to conduct outreach to local schools, universities and filmmakers to provide free programming distribution. 

Other things to note: 

• After a four-month operational assessment, Media Services restructured its operations and budget. It has been operating under restructured operations since July 2024.  
• Budget allocation: Ninety-two percent of the Media Services budget is allocated for salaries and wages, with less than 6% set aside for contracts.
• Accessibility: The Southwest floods identified a need to increase language access across social media during live broadcasts. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Lucy Smith, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 14 

Proposed budget: $2,600,000

Number of employees: 50

What’s new this year: 

• Neil Barclay, president and CEO of The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, explained the ongoing challenges facing the millage they hope will secure funding for the museum, including how the legislation is stalled in Lansing. 
• Jeffrey Anderson, the museum’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, explained the difficult position the funding shortfall puts the museum in, and laid out why the millage is crucial for the continued operation of the museum’s mechanical systems.

Things to watch: 

• Anderson said the museum’s orientation theater on the first floor has been closed since the flood. It is now being rebuilt, and the museum hopes to reopen it as a children’s space later in 2025.

Other things to note: 

• The Charles H. Wright Museum was invited by London-based NextGen to present about the museum’s efforts in sustainability, producing a 20-minute video that will soon be available publicly. 
• Councilmembers and museum officials discussed the commercial kitchen and gathering space that can seat about 100 people. The museum has been unable to attract a vendor to operate it, although the possibility of using it to attract pop-up eateries was raised. 
• The Charles H. Wright Museum has been recognized three times in a row for “Best Museum Shop” by Detroit Metro Times. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

-Tamia Davis, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 19

Proposed budget: $40,439,902

Number of employees: 360

What’s new this year:

• City Council President Mary Sheffield proposed hiring a concierge project manager to help small businesses and developers navigate the BSEED’s certificates of compliance. Sheffield proposed moving $600,000 for this and it will later be discussed in an executive session.
• BSEED has a goal to increase residential certificates of compliance by 40-50% and by 35% for commercial businesses. BSEED Director David Bell says that he will have more compliance fairs this year to help property owners get up to code.
• Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero has recommended adding $200,000 to BSEED’s budget to help with language access. Currently, BSEED has one employee dedicated to language access. Bell says the department also partners with the Department of Civil Rights for language access, as needed.
  

Things to watch:

• BSEED launched a 15-step inspection process for 75% of the city; it will be available for the full city on May 1.
• BSEED is updating their IT infrastructure during the next budget year. Director David Bell says it will make it easier to upload files and that the process has been streamlined so that folks don’t have to use multiple apps and websites while getting permits.
• The department plans to launch an air quality monitoring network city-wide.

Other things to note:

• 276 illegal marijuana facilities closed in the last year.
• Bell discussed the process for residents to file complaints against landlords, especially in regard to discrimination. “We are also working on revamping that human rights ordinance, so currently, the ordinance does not have actual teeth for us to be able to move forward when there is a discrimination complaint,” said Councilmember Santiago-Romero.
• Director Bell says BSEED is aggressively coming after unlicensed businesses. Bell says there is a team dedicated to finding unlicensed businesses, issuing warnings and shutting down those businesses as needed. He says business licenses have increased by 35% since the previous year.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 20

Proposed budget: $11,168,287

Number of employees: 95

What’s new this year: 

• 21 residential parking zones have been created, allowing Detroiters to obtain street parking permits near their homes. It was designed to protect parking access for residents living near high-traffic areas. More petitions are being considered in Corktown, around Henry Ford Health’s campus and in Midtown.
• The ParkDetroit app is being expanded to include a merchant rewards program that offers discounts for participating businesses if customers park in specific areas. 
• A curbside parking study will assess the ability to reduce curbside congestion and investigate a commercial parking monetization model. 

Things to watch: 

• The parking department is exploring installing cameras that can verify the occupancy of street parking spaces and send that information to the ParkDetroit App, allowing residents to see where openings are with more accuracy. 
• Detroit warned residents in December about scam text messages claiming they owe payment for unpaid parking invoices. Officials say that these messages are not legitimate and are designed to trick recipients into providing sensitive information or making fraudulent payments. 
• The department is exploring ways to work with senior housing buildings to offer more accessible parking options. 

Other things to note:

Payment plans are available for low-income residents who struggle to pay off parking tickets.

Council Member Angela Whitfield Calloway voiced concerns about parking availability along Livernois Avenue on the Avenue of Fashion.

The parking enforcement fleet is fully electric. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 20

Proposed budget: $20,697,667 to the Public Lighting Department. The Public Lighting Authority uses $12,500,000 from a utility tax to pay debt on bonds issued to modernize street lights.

Number of employees: N/A

What’s new this year: 

• The repair time for light fixture outages has risen to an average of eight days as the first generation of luminaires installed in 2014-2015 begin to fail. Outages in winter 2024 were approximately double the number recorded in winter 2023. So far, 3,500 fixture replacements have been completed out of 8,000 first-generation fixtures. 

Things to watch: 

• Street lighting system improvements were funded through the sale of $185 million in bonds. Roughly $153.9 million remains and the bonds are expected to mature by 2045. The city sold $22 million in Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bonds for additional street lighting improvements. 
• In the future, smart technology could allow lights to adjust in brightness depending on time of day, extending life cycle and reducing energy costs. But solar lights seem unlikely, as they require batteries that require more maintenance than the fixtures themselves. Solar fixtures installed on Belle Isle went out within a year and never came back on. 
• PLD is taking down obsolete power lines, clearing a path for modern fixtures to replace them. 

Other things to note:

• Officials presented a rough estimate of 8,000 city blocks that are missing a light pole. Roughly 3,000 mid-block lights could be installed to improve lighting on those streets. It would cost $6 million. 
• The PLA is contemplating expanding the lighting system as it refinances its bond obligations, but replacing all first-generation fixtures and repairing broken poles should come first. 
• The PLA is exploring using $4 million to install better lighting in alleys. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 24

Proposed budget: $21,383,977

Number of employees: 119

What’s new this year:

• The Law Department received a $2.5 million grant for the Right to Counsel program, and about $225,000 will be used for outreach to individuals who are in default for failing to appear in court. Councilmembers expressed interest in more outreach regarding the program. 
• Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett said the city plans to file lawsuits against large residential property owners this year. 

Things to watch:

• Flipping tax-foreclosed properties to relatives has to stop, according to Mallet. He raised concerns about the Wayne County Treasurer’s  policies that allow tax-foreclosed properties to be transferred to a relative in Wayne County, which isn’t allowed in Oakland and Macomb counties.
• Cryptocurrency is on the law department’s radar and Mallett said they are taking the matter “very, very, very seriously.” 
• Right to Counsel is primarily funded by ARPA, and those funds will run out by the end of 2026. There’s enough funding allocated for the Right to Counsel program to assist people who show up to court, but not for the estimated 5,000 Detroiters who have defaulted in an eviction case which costs about $760 per case. 

Other things to note:

• Mallett said he believes the Community Violence Intervention program has had a very positive effect on litigation because it reduces friction between law enforcement and the general public. 
• The law department handled 6,805 Right to Counsel cases last year; 3,546 tenants retained possession of their homes between March 2023 and Dec. 2024;  10,881 tenants who appeared in court were eligible for representation; and 5,593 weren’t eligible. 
• Costs associated with solar development went up 25% because, according to Mallet, speculators bought the land and transferred it back and forth to each other, resulting in an inflated price compared to the actual average price a year ago. “None of that, unfortunately, is illegal.” 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

– Kayleigh Lickliter, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 19

Proposed budget: $40,501,027

Number of employees:  The mayor’s budget recommends 146 full-time employees, down from 159 in the current fiscal year.

What’s new this year: 

• The department expects to meet its target of 8,000 demolitions. 
• Facilities work order completions this fiscal year are outpacing the previous year: 4,991 to date.
  

Things to watch:

• Renovations to the Coleman A. Young Community Center should be completed by the end of March. The Parks and Recreation Department will determine its reopening date.
• People who purchase property from the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) should be notified of a property’s standing order for demolition in advance of the sale. Buyers can contact the Building, Safety, Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) for information about properties.
• Abandoned schools in the city pose a threat to the health and safety of the community. The city owns 19 of them. An estimated 26 belong to Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). Each unit is fiscally responsible for its demolition funding.

Other things to note: 

• The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is in the process of securing city-owned abandoned, vacant and open school sites.
• The demolition of residential and commercial properties has reduced the number of fires and police activity in the city and has offered increased family and community interaction through projects such as the Joe Louis Greenway.
• Older homes contain contaminants, such as asbestos. Departmental policy orders the placement of door-hangers on every residential home within 400 feet of the target site prior to the scheduled demolition. Contractors are required to prove distribution of the information by a date- and time- stamped picture. Residents can check the department’s website for updated information.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Gina McPherson, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 19  

Proposed budget: $1,904,651

Number of employees: 16 

What’s new this year:

• As she did last year, Director Julianne Pastula said she wants to reinstitute rotating council district blight court proceedings in the community. She asked for the council’s assistance in identifying and/or setting up recreation sites for the hearings.
• Director Pastula said the court is now fully online, and that options exist to file motions, file blight clearance applications, search a property’s blight history and access instructions and forms via QR codes for convenience.
• Pastula said the department does not seize properties but that it will begin garnishments in lieu of collections for blight tickets via Third Circuit Court. She did not provide a date.

Things to watch:

• Despite metrics that indicate otherwise, (see page B45-5), Pastula said the department is not revenue-generating. Councilmember Scott Benson pointed out that the numbers in the budget indicate otherwise, and the department brings in far more than it spends. 
• Pastula said the department is sending notices via U.S. mail and posting them directly on properties. She said they’ve noticed a decrease in day-of and day-before hearing complaints by people saying they didn’t receive a notice. 

Other things to note:

• The department advised the public to register their rental and vacant properties, which city ordinance and state law require.
• Customer service is available in-person (CAYMC, Suite 1004) and online. There are QR codes for the motion to set aside default judgment (within 21 days) and for blight clearance applications.
• In 2024, the department issued 121,391 blight tickets, up from 93,391 in 2023. It also adjudicated 90,106 cases, up from 81,899 the year before. An adjudicated blight case is the legal process that results in a decision; this means that the case is dismissed, a clearance is issued, or collections/enforcement continues.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -A J Johnson, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 20

Proposed budget: $7,466,258

Number of employees: 38 proposed for FY 2026, down from 39 currently

What’s new this year: 

• The Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department (CRIO) launched a targeted outreach strategy called “Know Your Rights” to educate Detroit residents about civil rights protections and employee complaint procedures.
• CRIO increased spending for language access implementation. Ruby Robinson, managing attorney from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center criticized the department for not using language access services enough — especially in law enforcement situations.
• The department increased spending for the Office of Disability Affairs by an additional $400,000.
  

Things to watch: 

• Councilmember Angela Whitfield Calloway raised concerns that the city’s human trafficking ordinance requires hotels and motels to post a 9-by-7-inch placard, but the placards don’t exist. The department responded that their staff plans to start getting the placards to establishments during annual inspections. 
• Councilmember James Tate said the city needs testing kits to ensure cannabis products aren’t being illegally sold, especially to children.
• Councilmember Mary Waters raised the need for additional support for Detroit veterans. A proposal by Waters to add one community outreach person and technical support person will be discussed in executive session. 

Other things to note: 

• City Council authorized $350,000 in 2023 for a disparity study to be conducted in 2024, but the money was never used and was eventually returned to the General Fund. A disparity study investigates whether there are discriminatory practices in the solicitation and awarding of contracts. Calloway was frustrated that the money was never used and that she did not receive any communication regarding this. She called for this funding to be added back to the department’s budget, so the study could be conducted in the next fiscal year.
• Council approved a motion by Tate to reassign 96% of the cannabis revenue sharing from adult marijuana sales to CRIO’s Office of Cannabis Affairs programming, and allocate $1 million to the Homegrown Legacy Fund. The remaining 4% would go to the Health Department for substance abuse outreach.
• The department said none of its operations or programming are affected by the current executive orders that are coming down from Washington, DC.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Sneha Dhandapani, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 21

Proposed budget: $15,669,539

Number of employees: 107

What’s new this year:

• The Human Resources Department (HR) onboarded 3,000 new employees in the past year, including more than 400 bus drivers, 400 seasonal workers and 200 firefighters.
• HR enrolled 850 Detroit residents in programs through Skills for Life, with almost 300 completing their training and working in community beautification.
• The department launched a citywide Milestone Service Recognition Program to acknowledge employees’ years of service.
  

Things to watch:

• Later this year, HR will implement a new learning management system via a module from UKG called UltiPro.
• The department finalized implementation of the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) and is currently in the process of amending it, as HR works with the city’s Law Department and City Council’s Legislative Policy Division (LPD).
• HR is negotiating successor agreements with several unions, including AFSCME, SEIU, Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, and Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division. 

Other things to note:

• Less than 10% of city workers are doing flexible (hybrid) work, with safeguards in place to monitor the productivity of semi-remote workers.
• HR employees have free access to targeted training, life coaching and new web app services.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Nadia Ziyad, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 12

Proposed budget: $66 million, consistent with previous year’s budget (excluding ARPA funds). Of that, only $5,165,000 is being asked of the city.

Primary Funding Sources:

• Federal formula funds (largest portion, serves as foundation of their system)
• Federal competitive grants for special programs
• City of Detroit funding (approximately 8% of overall budget)
• Corporate and philanthropic investments
• Previously received ARPA funds (now ending)

City Funding Specifics:

• Staffing grant to support personnel working with economic development partners
• Workforce Development Fund established by executive order ($1 million) for construction trades
• Grow Detroit’s Young Talent funding through a contract with the city’s Human Resources Department

Number of Employees: N/A

What’s new this year:

• DESC will develop a “Detroit Youth at Work” website to better advertise youth employment programs.
• The department is planning to expand multilingual services and materials, including billboards in multiple languages to reach diverse communities. 
• The department will implement a caller ID system showing “Detroit at Work” when calling clients to address communication challenges. 

Things to watch:

• DESC is conducting an ongoing analysis of career center utilization to ensure effective placement, exploring alternative locations like libraries, rec centers and churches.
• The department is working on a transition strategy as ARPA-funded programs (like Skills for Life) end, shifting focus to embedding successful elements into existing programs.
• There’s a significant wage gap between average neighborhood income ($26,000/year in Brightmoor) and construction program placements ($31/hour or $68,000/year).

Other things to note:

• Nine career centers across Detroit serve a variety of residents (500-5,000 per location) with intensive support.
• Over 44,000 residents were referred to partner employers with 14,000 successfully hired.
• Program participants who complete training earn approximately $24/hour on average, with construction trades averaging $31/hour.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Jody White, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 24

Proposed budget: $33,321,872

Number of employees: 325

What’s new this year:

• The court instituted a new policy amid increasing tension between tenants and bailiffs while serving court-ordered evictions. Court officers are now required to stand down as soon as an individual escalates the situation or the circumstances suggest the tenant is facing a mental health crisis or there are weapons in the home. The court now hands the matter over to the Detroit Police Department for further assistance. In mental health situations, DPD sends their co-response unit to de-escalate the situation at a later time or the next day.  
• Chief Judge William McConico said he signed an administrative order in the last few weeks that allows someone to enroll in a payment plan regardless of how much money they can put down when they sign up. Previously, individuals had to pay 25% of their balance to enroll in a payment plan. 
• 36th District Court judges are requiring deeds more than they used to amid an increase in “people fraudulently renting out apartments” and collecting rent from tenants for a property they don’t own.
  

Things to watch:

• The summer internship program that would with various colleges and universities and students from Cash Tech and Renaissance High School could be expanded. McConico said he’s heard interest from other schools and colleges about participating in the program.
• The court saw a lot of success with federal grants last year, such as specialty and drug courts, but they’re unable to reapply for grants during the Trump administration’s freeze.. McConico said they may have to come back to the council to request additional funding if the freeze isn’t lifted. 
• There are discussions in Lansing regarding restructuring the way courts are funded which would redistribute funds from larger courts to smaller ones. McConico said this would negatively impact the 36th District Court. 

Other things to note:

• McConico credited Right to Counsel for a number of improvements in case outcomes. The number of writs of eviction decreased from around 10,000 in 2019 to 5,590 last year. 2% of tenants facing eviction in 2019 were represented by an attorney versus 35% last year.
• The district court faced new challenges when the county moved from across the street at Frank Murphy Hall of Justice to the new Criminal Justice Center which led to prisoners being held in the courthouse for longer periods, leaving prisoners enough time to remove paneling in light fixtures to make weapons. The courthouse made structural improvements this year to address this problem. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

–Kayleigh Lickliter, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 24

Proposed budget: $455,406,061

Number of employees: 3,522

What’s new this year:

• Chief Todd Bettison is moving personnel around internally to reflect the department’s priorities under his leadership, including a 50-55% increase in the number of personnel assigned to the Major Violators Unit, which handles narcotics cases and the Missing Persons Unit; a 17% increase in personnel assigned to the Fugitive Apprehension Team, which locates and arrests individuals with outstanding felony warrants; and a 27% increase in the Vice Unit, which handles tobacco enforcement and other enforcement activity for illegal activity including human trafficking, hotel inspections, etc. 
• Bettison is requesting $462,000 for intelligence specialists, $827,000 for maintenance and operations for helicopters, $270,000 for traffic control officer salary increases and $800,000 for forensic technician and crime analyst salary increases 
• A new missing persons alert system will be rolled out in the near future where the city will send notifications out to residents when there’s a missing person, including for runaways. The system will be called “Emerald Alerts” and will operate similar to AMBER Alerts.
  

Things to watch:

• The future of the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program is still uncertain as the city waits for the state Legislature to approve legislation that would establish a Public Safety Trust Fund that would return $18 million to Detroit. The city planned to use a portion of this funding to continue the program. 
• DPD is investigating issues related to towing companies that aren’t contracted with the department. Specifically, Bettison said towers will listen to the scanner and show up at the scene, speak with individuals involved and offer to assist them, but what they’re doing is illegal. 
• DPD is working with DWIHN to bring on more behavioral health specialists so the co-response unit can increase it’s operations from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. to 24/7 operations. 

Other things to note: 

• DPD plans to spent more time with the community in the future including foot and bike patrols, as well as sending Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs) out into the their assigned areas to knock on doors and discuss various ways they can help keep their family safe, such as offering gun locks. 
• Two weekends ago, DPD saw a weekend without a single homicide or non-fatal shooting. Bettison said he can’t recall this happening once in his 30-year career with DPD. 
• Since 2023, the department has added 342 members to its roster; 55.4% of these newly-hired officers are African American, 37.5% are white, 5.7% are Hispanic and 1.4% are other ethnicities. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

–Kayleigh Lickliter, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 21

Proposed budget: $4,457,420

Number of employees: 12

What’s new this year:

• The department is in the process of building a new air traffic control tower.
• The department asked for $25,000 to increase marketing for the airport to raise awareness of what the it does. Feedback suggests residents drive past the airport and don’t think anything happens there. This discussion was added to an executive session. 
• The airport might change from a “general aviation” classification to a “primary nonhub” classification, which would help the department receive about $1.3 million a year in Federal Aviation Administration funding for development — an increase from approximately $150,000.
  

Things to watch:

• A partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District is planned to introduce an aviation career education academy to introduce students to aerospace careers.
• Wetzel Tucker, with help from an Federal Aviation Administration workforce development grant totaling $1 million, will provide up to 25 people with training to help them get their pilot’s license for free. 

Other things to note: 

• Councilmembers were all receptive to the different projects going on at the airport. Several asked questions about youth engagement and how to make residents more aware of the opportunities the airport can bring. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Alex Klaus, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 24

Proposed budget: $4,046,753

Number of employees: 35

What’s new this year:

• The BOPC celebrated a series of wins including the recent launch of the police accountability dashboard, the Office of Chief Investigator is fully-staffed for the first time since 2012 and the board had an opportunity to weigh in on the police department’s budget before it was submitted to the City Council. 
• The BOPC is requesting an additional six OCI Investigator positions on top of what’s included in the proposed budget. Additional temporary staff were approved in last year’s budget to address the backlog of outstanding cases, but the union advised the board they had to hire full time staffers instead. The BOPC said the additional investigators would continue tackling the backlog. 

Things to watch: 

• The BOPC is in the process of reviewing every policy in the police department as part of DPD’s effort to bring its policies and procedures up to the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police standards to obtain accreditation. The process will take place in BOPC’s Policy Committee. 
• Around 70% of citizen complaints are procedural and often relate to body-worn cameras, either not being turned on at all or being turned off. 
• City Councilperson Gabriela Santiago-Romero requested that the board provide a citizen complaint form in Spanish to increase language access. 

Other things to note: 

• OCI investigators are expected to close around 96 cases each year. 
• BOPC’s implementation of the new case management system has allowed it to reduce the amount of time investigators spent typing information into reports and other redundant tasks.  

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

–Kayleigh Lickliter, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 20

Proposed budget: $1,530,563

Number of employees: 8

What’s new this year: 

• The Detroit Building Authority (DBA) continues to focus on acquiring, furnishing, equipping, and maintaining city facilities.
• Ongoing capital projects include the new Coolidge bus terminal facility for the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), parking lot renovations for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), and renovations at AB Ford Park and the Detroit Public Library’s Skillman Branch.
• The DBA also highlighted ongoing improvements to its commercial real estate website, making it more user-friendly for people interested in purchasing city-owned properties. They’ve added features like an interactive map and a more streamlined application process.
  

Things to watch: 

• The DBA acknowledged a need to improve communication about properties slated for demolition. The authority is working on creating a better system to notify potential property buyers about existing demolition plans.
• The Skillman Branch library renovations and improvements will have to come before City Council for approval.
• Councilmember Fred Durhal suggested creating a program to give priority to Detroit residents and minority-owned businesses when purchasing city-owned properties, and Council agreed to discuss it in executive session. 

Other things to note: 

• Council President Pro Tem James Tate said a tutorial of the property buying website similar to that done for Council during this budget hearing could be helpful to some potential buyers. He suggested they work with Media Services to produce one.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Noah Levinson, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 21 

Proposed budget: $294,433,098 

Number of employees: 650 

What’s new this year: 

• There’s a 3.5% rate increase for water, sewer and drainage services. 
• DWSD had a goal of removing the city’s 10,000 lead service lines a year for the next 10 years, at the cost of around $100 million dollars. Due to lack of funding, the department plans to remove only 3,500 lead lines unless it receives state and federal funding to remove more. 
• The department plans to clean and inspect 8,000 catch basins to reduce street flooding. 

Things to watch: (Limit: 3 bullet points. Complete sentences are welcome but not required where shorter phrases don’t hinder understanding. Also, if a bolded keyword at the beginning of each bullet is helpful, feel free to add that.)

• DWSD Director Gary Brown estimates it will cost the department $5 million to clean up after the water main break in Southwest Detroit. 
• The water department is searching for grants, state and federal funding to help support the city’s water affordability Lifeline Plan. The city had about 27,000 households enrolled in the Lifeline Plan before October but only enough funding to support about 10,000 households. 
• The department plans to clean 600 miles of sewer to meet current design standards. It hopes to clean the entire system in a five-year cycle. 

Other things to note: (Limit: 3 bullet points. Complete sentences are welcome but not required where shorter phrases don’t hinder understanding. Also, if a bolded keyword at the beginning of each bullet is helpful, feel free to add that.)

• The department is hiring 20 people in the next year. Right now, there is a hiring freeze due to expenses. 
• The department plans to complete the Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project detention basins and sewers to remove 100 million gallons of stormwater and snowmelt annually. 
• Brown says there are some churches in Detroit who pay $10,000 a month in drainage fees, in addition to water and sewer costs. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 17

Proposed budget: $7,450,000

Number of employees: 91 FTE

What’s new this year: 

• After the Detroit Transportation Corp. (DTC) eliminated fares on The Detroit People Mover, ridership increased. In 2024, ridership was 1,075,000. Monthly average ridership is up 113% over the previous year.
• DTC is on track to replace the entire fleet of 12 People Mover cars using previous, one-time City Council support of $6 million. DTC purchased 16 of the most usable cars plus tools and inventory at a discount  from the decommissioned Scarborough Line in Toronto. The 16 cars are currently stored in Pennsylvania while being adapted and prepared for use in Detroit. They will likely begin running in 2026, said Robert Cramer, former general manager of DTC and the city’s current executive director of transit. The new trains are expected to add 10 years of life past that of the current trains.
• New planning efforts and upgrades are to come using discretionary grant funds from the Michigan Department of Transportation:
  • People Mover System Plan: $800,000 to study short-, medium- and long-term improvement ideas for the People Mover.
  • Strategic Agency Plan: $100,000 to study future directions for the DTC.
  • Data Management System: The DTC will enhance its system for tracking system performance.

Things to watch: 

• How would Renaissance Center demolition plans affect the People Mover station there? Cramer says the station is already mostly free-standing, and any changes would be manageable. DTC is excited about the possibility of providing public transit access directly to a recreation-oriented space if some of the office buildings come down.
• The People Mover will continue to be fare-free in 2025; DTC hopes for another 50% increase in ridership, which would bring the system in line with its highest ever ridership years in the early 2010s. Cramer is targeting 2 million rides.
• DTC is planning a new advertising campaign this year on the columns that support the People Mover tracks.

Other things to note: 

• DTC owns and operates the Detroit People Mover. It is a nonprofit mostly funded by Detroit City Council. What is the People Mover’s role in the city? Cramer: “I … strongly believe that there is a major role that the People Mover is playing and can continue to grow, to connect all the mobility options (in Detroit).”
• DTC replaced worn down curved sections of the People Mover track. The system was closed for three months while that work was completed. Cramer said it has led to “a much smoother ride.”
• Cramer says serving larger-than-usual numbers of people during the NFL Draft was a point of pride for the People Mover in the last year.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 26

Proposed budget: $129,462,035

Number of full-time employees: 640.7

What’s new this year:

• GSD is working on a public service ad campaign to educate Detroiters about animal control ordinances, which require animals to be walked on leash, or kept in a secure yard.
• 6,553 trees have been trimmed or removed through the Dead, Dangerous, and Diseased Tree Program. GSD received one-time funding for this program, and retains funding to fulfill 5,000 of 7,000 trimming and removal requests, giving priority to emergency situations. Council President Mary Sheffield says this popular program deserves to be prioritized in the budget to meet the needs of remaining requesters.
• The city’s alley cleanup program is ending this June after four years of funding. Sheffield asks to add this program to executive session, noting that some of her constituents still need help with alley cleanups.

Things to watch:

• 8 of 13 recreation centers are open on Saturdays, none on Sundays. Council President Pro Tem James Tate asks after the cost of opening more recreation centers on Saturdays. He is focused on Crowell Recreation Center.
• GSD, along with community partners including Greening of Detroit and DTE Energy, is one-third of the way to a goal of planting 75,000 trees by 2027. The initiative is called the Detroit Tree Equity Partnership.
• The Coleman A. Young Recreation Center is expected to reopen this spring after being closed for renovations since 2020. GSD hopes to get the keys in April from the city’s construction department. A grand reopening is anticipated in the first week of May, permits pending.

Other things to note: 

• 1,000 children have participated in the Swim in the D Program, which launched in 2021.
• GSD awarded the Public Safety Department an $8,000 grant for a spay-and-neuter program
• Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero asked about the graffiti removal process, specifically how art pieces are distinguished from graffiti. “Graffiti removal attendants are well-trained in the difference [between] art and graffiti,” said GSD Director Crystal Perkins. Art on poles is against the ordinance. Building permits are needed to have art on buildings. Santiago-Romero and Perkins agree to a roundtable meeting with artists to hear their concerns and inform them of ordinances that impact street art.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 27

Proposed budget: $2,800,000

Number of full-time employees: 25

What’s new this year: 

• Increased budget by 10% for Detroit Legal News. Their prices were flat over the last 10 years.
• Increase in contractual services for eScribe public meeting management software, roughly 4%.
• “The budget is largely a continuation of the status quo with minimal changes year over year.”

Things to watch:

• eScribe promised repeatedly that the public would be able to track councilmembers’ votes in real time, but it still hasn’t happened. “We won’t renew that contract unless they give us the sweets that they promised us,” said Janice Winfrey, city clerk.
• Councilmember Fred Durhal asks about an online system for searching ordinances. Ordinances are viewable online at Municode, but this system is one year behind on Detroit. “I would like a platform that we’d be able to control, I do believe it provides more transparency,” Durhal said. Currently, the city charter requires that ordinances are printed before they can be codified. That process, particularly proofreading, is time consuming and is taken on by two people who also have other jobs. Most ordinances are zoning, which tend to be long and labor intensive to review. A member of the clerk’s office suggests that there may be a way to put new ordinances online before they’ve gone through the full review process.
• Revenues dropped from $13,250 to $7,650 from last year to this year due to demand fluctuations, per Winfrey.

Other things to note: 

• The clerk’s employee count dropped by two, eliminating “underutilized” or high turnover positions. The office is going to maintain the lower staffing level and increase some salaries instead, though the overall budget for salaries will drop slightly.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 27

Proposed budget: $1,926,150

Number of employees: 11

What’s new this year:

• The department wants to hire a manager of “investigations and audits,”  who would oversee the department’s investigations. The salary for that position would be $120,000.
• OIG wants to create a new initiative called “inspections and evaluations,” which would focus on efficiency and processes, rather than wrongdoing. “It gives us the ability to review and assess policies and programs with an emphasis on identifying compliance issues and the potential risks of fraud, abuse, waste and corruption,” said Deputy Inspector General Jennifer Bentley.
• The office has introduced an advisory memorandum, which allows any public servant or department to request guidance to mitigate risks. These reports won’t be published, but they are subject to public records requests.
• OIG is asking for an additional $171,379 to fund the manager of investigations and audits’ salary, and associated expenses.
  

Things to watch:

• OIG is focusing on community engagement efforts in 2025. So far, the department has been to Districts 2, 4 and 7 to talk about the department.
• OIG has updated how the department labels cases. In the past, the majority of cases were closed and labeled as “declined investigation/no action.” Now, the department has added new categories for formal and informal referrals, such as complaints that fall outside the department’s jurisdiction.
• Kamau Marable became inspector general in August.

Other things to note: 

• In 2024, the Office of the Inspector General conducted two administrative hearings, issued two interim suspensions and issued 10 disbarments.
• The OIG now issues and tracks recommendations to departments based on investigations. OIG says 11 of their recommendations have been accepted, one was partially accepted and one recommendation was rejected.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 28

Proposed budget: $172,360,913

Number of employees: 522.25

What’s new this year: 

• DPW is seeking a $12.1 million increase in budget with the street fund increasing by $3.8 million and the solid waste budget increasing by $8 million.
• Residents’ solid waste fees will increase from $250 to $260 annually.
• The department expects to do these projects in 2025: repave 20 miles of residential streets, repave 12 miles of major roads, install 200 speed humps, replace 10,000 flags of tree-damaged sidewalks and outfit 800 intersections with backup generator capability.
  

Things to watch:

• 97,000 households (43%) have opted into curbside recycling in Detroit.
• “Over the last 10 years, we replaced about 640,000 flags of sidewalk citywide. We’ve got, in total, about 4 million flags. I think about nine years ago, we did a survey, and as a result of that survey, at that particular time, we determined about 40% of the sidewalks were damaged and in need of repair,” said Ron Brundidge, Director of Public Works.
• Brundidge said the department installs ADA-compliant ramps whenever it is doing road construction. In the last 15 years, he says the city has installed 100,000 ADA-compliant ramps and that his “first goal is to get to a point where every corner in the city is fully ADA compliant.”

Other things to note:

• DPW currently has 72 vacancies but 37 positions will be filled by seasonal staff in April.
• The department is budgeting to add 22 more people to its staff.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 28

Proposed budget: $994,108

Number of employees: 10 FTE (One full-time director, plus nine board members compensated per diem for an average annual total of about $80k per year, per member, without benefits)

What’s new this year:

• The board anticipates about 1,400 appeals this year.
• The board’s director requested an additional $758,790 to fund a deputy director, three FTE clerks in the office of the assessor, upgrades to office equipment and more.
• The Pay As You Stay program sunsets July 1, having saved more than 15,000 households from foreclosure over the last several years.

Things to watch:

• The board is considering reductions of in-person hearings at rec centers.
• The board suggested requiring anyone who buys from the Detroit Land Bank Authority be required to appeal to the Board of Review (to make sure people are not saddled with huge tax bills).
• The board is considering an exemption level for the HOPE program for people whose income does not allow them to qualify now but who have burdensome medication and health expenses.

Other things to note: 

• There are about three times as many property tax exemptions and poverty exemptions than in 2008, shifting the work to long-term rather than emergent.
• The board holds seven events annually, one in each district, more than the required three.
• Board members are paid $320 per diem and the director suggests it stay that way, although the budgeted per diem (253-265 days) is equivalent to a year of full-time work.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -October Krausch, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 31

Proposed budget: $591,195

Number of employees: Four 

What’s new this year: 

• The recommended budget is a 13% decrease from the previous budget, a $91,765 cut. The board is seeking a $771,835 budget, including an additional $95,000 in recurring cost to secure a long-term contract for an ethics training system and $85,640 to hire two part-time employees.
• One of the part-time employees would add a second ethics investigator. A lone investigator completed 164 investigations on their own, an “enormous amount of work.” The other position is a part-time marketing outreach coordinator. 
• The board is focused on securing disclosures of potential conflicts of interest. Only three were submitted in 2022, followed by 15 in 2023. The board started securing ethics disclosures from the mayor’s office to set a good example and it bore fruit: 108 disclosures were submitted in 2024, the most in the board’s history. 

Things to watch: 

• The board supports a new proportional funding method to fund oversight agencies including the Office of Inspector General, Auditor General, Ombudsperson. If approved, the board would seek a $1.3 million budget. 
• The board advocated for more funding to hire an independent legal counsel. Legal advice is currently provided by the Law Department. 

Other things to note: 

• It took 50 days on average to address complaints and 175 days to complete investigations in 2024. 
• The board supports the idea of creating an ethics hotline for residents to file complaints. It was described as an industry best practice to improve accessibility. 
• Council President Mary Sheffield said the board should meet more frequently. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

—Malachi Barrett, BridgeDetroit

Date: March 31

Proposed budget: $1.7 million

Number of employees: 12 FTE

What’s new this year:  

• The office performed outreach operations throughout the year to contact residents and gather feedback and complaints. Gail Barnard, deputy ombudsperson, said the office held monthly office hours with a total of 77 participants, 50 in-person community meetings and donated 700 turkeys during its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive.
• The office asked for an additional full-time employee this year; this person will take complaints and provide assistance to citizens. The office’s budget was added to the executive session.

Things to watch:

• Ombudsman Bruce Simpson recommends that the city implement training and/or financial incentives to increase the proportion of gas stations and convenience stores in Detroit that are owned by residents, perhaps through the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. “The City of Detroit has just over 200 active gas stations,” he said. “Socially, there is a disconnect between the ownership of these businesses and the communities that they serve. Due to that disconnect, we see vape pens and cigarettes being sold to our underage children. The general welfare of the patrons from the community is not taken into consideration.”
• Simpson recommends making the Office of Immigrant Affairs a permanent office within the city. Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero took up this recommendation and it will be discussed during the executive session.
• Simpson raised concerns about code inspections of buildings owned by the city or its vendors. He shows photos of alleged code violations at the city-owned Ford Underground Garage.

Other things to note: 

• The Office retains legal counsel independent of the city. Simpson: “There are times when our interests and those of the administration may differ.”
• Simpson’s 10-year term as ombudsperson ends after this year. The ombudsman is appointed by a two-thirds vote of City Council.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing.

-Koby Levin, Outlier Media

Date: March 31

Proposed budget: $300,000 General Fund contribution from the Non-Departmental Budget, a 45% decrease from FY 2025.

Number of employees: N/A

What’s new this year:

• Eastern Market will begin construction on Shed 7 in July. The new $17.2 million building is funded by grants from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – Food & Dairy Division and the Gilbert Family Foundation, as well as New Member Tax Credits. The permits are currently under review, but the building will be Eastern Market’s first 100% cold chain-compliant facility. It will have a dedicated dock and refrigeration space for Detroit urban farmers. It will also be the first new Eastern Market shed built in 40 years.
• Eastern Market is still planning a $15-$16 million redevelopment of Shed 4. It will offer indoor year-round vendor stalls and will include a second-floor incubator kitchen for food businesses. The organization has only raised $3 million so far.
• Eastern Market is planning a Meat Accelerator and a Grain/Mill Accelerator to further support businesses and vendors.
  

Things to watch:

• Eastern Market leaders say they have not awarded out $250,000 earmarked for Black-owned farms due to legal issues with giving public funds out to private businesses. The organization did not ask for a repeat of the funds which would have been returned to the General Fund if not spent by the June deadline. Councilmember Angela Whitfield-Calloway has called to give another $250,000 for the Black Farmers Fund anyway.
• As part of Eastern Market’s Small Business Incubation program, 18 businesses are currently sharing the kitchen in Shed 5 and 105 businesses became SafeServ certified.
• Eastern Market made several capital improvements last year: new snow removal vehicles, Shed 2 got new paint and concrete repairs, Shed 3 got new paint and window repair and replacement, Shed 5 got its boiler heat exchange replaced and an ice machine in the kitchen.

Other things to note: 

• Eastern Market delivered 1,000 boxes of food a week to non-profit partners, primarily in Detroit; 60% of purchasing was directed to 16 Black-owned Detroit farms.
• Eastern Market hosted a dozen or more farmstands, mostly in Detroit. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 31

Proposed budget: $17,027,648

Number of employees: 136

What’s new this year:

• Detroit City Council decided to put their budget hearing in Executive Session, meaning they discussed the majority of the budget in private.
• Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero asked for an additional $100,000 for each of the nine Council offices.
• Councilmember Coleman Young II asked for an additional hire for the Department of Neighborhoods.
  

Things to watch:

• Councilmember Mary Waters and Young II wanted to discuss individual budgets for at-large offices.

Other things to note: 

• Funding for the City Council also includes the Planning Commission, Board of Review, Legislative Policy Division and Historic Designation Advisory Board.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

-Briana Rice, Outlier Media

Date: March 26

Proposed budget: $69,034,035

Number of employees: 432

What’s new this year:

• The office of Chief Financial Officer Jay Rising will go live with the final phase of a new payroll system — UltiPro — for Detroit Police Department employees next month. As of now, employees do manual timekeeping, and this new system would change that. 
• The office is asking for a net increase of five positions, and a majority would be directly tied to implementing UltiPro for the police department. 
• Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero moved $2 million for piloting a participatory budgeting program to executive session, and Councilmember Fred Durhal motioned to put $250,000 into executive session for a pilot program to move people out of poverty with information regarding the Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program to help applicants pay their property taxes.
  

Things to watch:

• All federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) relief funds need to be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. The city has spent 64% of the funds. Rising fully obligated 100% of the funds by the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline. His office will work with City Council in the coming weeks to reassign previously obligated ARPA funds that aren’t needed for prior obligations of current projects. It will also continue overseeing ARPA programs to meet spending and reporting deadlines. 
• Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Nikhil Patel said the number of HOPE applications increased substantially, and it will take several weeks until his office figures out why. The Rising’s office will report back to City Council when it knows.
• Council President Mary Sheffield said the city is looking to diversify revenue streams as federal funding opportunities dwindle. She asked the CFO’s office about its positions and attempts to go after other additional revenue streams to fund numerous city issues including Detroit transit, neighborhood revitalization and other infrastructure concerns. Among other solutions, Rising proposed implementing an excise or entertainment tax, which he said would give communities the power to levy sales taxes and tangible personal property (purchases of clothing or cars, etc.). But his office can’t do that without a constitutional amendment. Also taxes for entertainment and restaurants might be more feasible in certain areas of commercial activity that attract residents who don’t live in the city. He said several large cities in the country do this. 

Other things to note: 

• The assessors for Rising’s office conducted site visits to 46,672 homes last year, with a daily average of 202. This sparked a discussion around overassessment of property taxes. The presenter noticed significant changes in homeownership and increases of Detroit Land Bank Authority properties in Districts 1-3 that were hit especially hard during the recession. “We’re living in a time where everything is selling for six figures,” Patel said. He said that doesn’t necessarily mean the property is worth that much, and assessors’ jobs are to determine what the property is actually worth. Another staff member said the CFO’s office will release a report that should prove there isn’t a systemic overassessment issue in the city. 
• Councilmember Coleman Young II asked what the revenues would be if the CFO implemented a land value tax. Young said to put the land value tax in executive session for closing resolution.
• Santiago-Romero worries that the city is building beautiful things, only for current or prospective residents to leave the city because property taxes are so high. She asked Rising what councilmembers have to do, because it’s unsustainable and not benefitting Detroiters who ultimately leave the city. He said the office shares her concern and thinks part of the answer is lowering the tax on investment in each property but taxing higher amounts of vacant and unused land. He mentioned how Windsor handles taxes on vacant homes. “How do we design a tax system that rewards entry to the city, not discourages entry into the city?” 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Alex Klaus, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 26

Proposed budget: $248,249,628

Number of employees: 165 FTE

What’s new this year: 

• Post-Bankruptcy Pension Contributions: Fiscal year 2026 includes $172.6 million for legacy pension obligations, drawn from the General Fund, Retiree Protection Fund and grants. This is part of Detroit’s ongoing return to pension funding after the 10-year “funding holiday.” 
• Grand Bargain Funding Continues: Detroit will continue to receive $18.7 million annually for the next 10 years from the Foundation for Detroit’s Future and the Detroit Institute of Arts, contingent on compliance and reporting. 
• General Fund Surplus Reinvestment: From the $109 million fiscal year 2024 surplus, $96 million has been allocated by Mayor Mike Duggan, including $12 million for cleaning up alleys, freeways and corridors and $25 million for blight remediation, both under Non-Departmental. 

Things to watch:

• Reporting Structure Concerns: Non-Departmental remains one of the least transparent parts of the budget — with funding for programs, people and services still grouped together without clear attribution. 
• Reductions to Cultural Institutions: Decreased funding for Detroit Zoological Society (down about $1.24 million) and Eastern Market (down $250,000) may affect services or programming. 
• Pension Cliff by 2036: The Retiree Protection Fund will be depleted by 2036, at which point the General Fund must fully cover legacy pension contributions (about $130 million per year). 

Other things to note: 

• New Focus on Solid Waste: Solid Waste Services Support received a major budget increase, signaling a stronger city emphasis on waste management. 
• Legacy Support Continues: Despite some cuts, institutions like the Charles H. Wright Museum and the Detroit People Mover retain or grow support. 
• Improved Credit Rating: Detroit regained investment-grade status in 2023 and continues to meet annually with rating agencies to seek further upgrades. Better credit ratings lower borrowing costs. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Chandler Vaughan, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 27 

Proposed budget: $43,472,160 

Number of employees: 325 full-time equivalent positions; 274 active employees, 51 open positions.

What’s new this year: 

• DPL celebrated 160 years of service in the city of Detroit this month with 20 active locations. 
• In August 2024, the continuation of the 10-year millage was approved with more than 85% of Detroit residents voting “yes” on the proposal. 
• DPL added a human resources recruitment specialist to their team to address the issue of entry-level vacancies across the department. 

Things to watch:

• Skillman Branch is projected to reopen 2026, and the Downtown Detroit Development Authority has contributed $3 million. The funding was approved in 2023, and there are questions about its progress. 
• Additional costs are associated with Monteith Branch’s reopening. Two million dollars has been allocated, but DPL is looking into relocating services for the Riverview and Jefferson Chalmers neighborhoods. 
• Programming will be expanded, focusing on adult literacy, family literacy, financial literacy and digital literacy. 

Other things to note: 

• The majority of revenue comes from public tax dollars. 
• The majority of expenditure goes toward employee salaries and benefits. 
• DPL and Councilmember Mary Waters’ Literacy Task Force will partner to address the low rates of functional literacy among Detroit adults. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Sarah Galt, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 27

Proposed budget: $63,940,297

Number of employees: 150.5 full-time equivalent positions

What’s new this year:

• DoIT hired its first-ever chief information security officer. 
• The department reported its lowest number of staffing vacancies in over a decade.
• Network updates include improved cybersecurity, site-to-site encryption for the police department, public WiFi, and technology collaboration with Detroit schools.
  

Things to watch:

• The DEI program will undergo rebranding due to the current political climate.
• City software expenses are increasing due to both higher usage and rising costs.
• A plan to provide broadband service to Hope Village residents stalled, and is in need of funding.

Other things to note: 

• Plan to better utilize AI to streamline city technology.
• Detroit community members expressed problems they have had using the city’s website; DoIT is taking steps to address the situation.

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Madeline Beck, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 31

Proposed budget: Not provided at the hearing. Last year DIA reported a $41.8 million operating budget covered through fundraising and a property tax millage that creates $28.6 million. The DIA functions as an independent nonprofit since the city’s bankruptcy.

Number of employees: The staff count was given as about 400, with 186 employees being Detroit residents.

What’s new this year:

• An Anishinaabe art exhibit opens in the fall of 2025; it will be the museum’s first major Native American exhibit in 30 years. 
• The DIA is cooperating with the efforts of the Detroit Cultural Center Association (DCCA) to create a connected, pedestrian-friendly cultural landscape encompassing the DIA, the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch, the Scarab Club, the Detroit Historical Museum, Wayne State University, College for Creative Studies, the Michigan Science Center, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American Art and other institutions. The DIA’s big capital project is repairing the 250-space underground parking structure, which was closed in 2011. It will cost $35 million to rebuild, with half of the money raised. Reopening the garage will allow the existing parking lot on John R Street to be used as community space.
• The endowment is $444 million and growing, putting the DIA on the path to financial sustainability. The museum’s goal is to be fully funded by the endowment investments by the time the millage ends in 2032.
  

Things to watch:

• Part of the pedestrian-friendly plan may include closing down some surrounding streets to vehicular traffic on weekends. 
• Detroit City Council encouraged the DIA to reach out to more Detroit students and to BIPOC students for museum attendance, DIA internships, and student art exhibits. 
• No financials were provided in the slide presentation; the focus was on community outreach programs and free admission for Wayne County residents. 

Other things to note: 

• The school program offers free transportation and curriculum-related visits, with 300,000 Wayne County students visiting the museum on free field trips since 2013. In 2024 alone, 16,000 Detroit students visited the museum through this program. 
• The senior program provides free transportation, guided tours and hospitality, with monthly live music events and behind-the-scenes art talks. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Roseann Micallef, Detroit Documenters

Date: March 27

Proposed budget: $19,159,048

Number of employees: 115

What’s new this year:

• The Elections Department needs new laptops and software because Windows 10 is becoming obsolete.
• There’s a significant reduction in revenue due to it being an off-year election. The city was reimbursed for presidential primaries
• The department will be changing the color and layout of the envelopes ballots are kept in, to make it harder to spoil ballots.
  

Things to watch:

• Political developments in Washington, D.C. will have significant effects on election law and therefore the department.
• Attacks on the integrity, or indeed legitimacy, of elections is obviously upsetting and concerning to the clerk.
• The recent executive order regarding voter identification and proof of citizenship at the polls must go to the Secretary of State, who will write procedures and then pass it on to the Deptartment of Elections.

Other things to note: 

• The last three election cycles have been rated 99% accurate. The current clerk expunged over 50,000 inappropriate voter files since 2006, and now claims to have among the most accurate voter rolls in Michigan.
• Detroit poll workers are paid more than any others in Michigan.
• A motion was made and approved to appropriate $500,000 for voter education efforts. 

For more information, check out the video of this budget hearing. 

 -Nathaniel Eichenhorn, Detroit Documenters