Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee Meeting – March 18, 2026

The Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee met on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 1:10 p.m. (public comment closed at 1:10 p.m.) during the budget season, which limited the committee to one hour. The committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes, heard public comment from four speakers, and considered unfinished business on state revenue sharing resolutions and an ARPA audit. New business included the mayor’s proposed FY 2026‑2027 budget, a neighborhood enterprise zone (NEZ) certificate application for a modular home in West Village, and several memoranda related to property tax relief and budget follow‑ups. All agenda items were disposed of by motions, with most brought back for future discussion or approval.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved by voice vote with no objections.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Owner Papa (Resident): Asserted that Detroit’s $3 billion budget cheats legacy citizens; that federal dollars do not return to residents; that surplus tax dollars are given to corporate America instead of funding a rec center; and that ARPA money should be available for block clubs like Miss Varner’s. Suggested the sixth division might need its own trash hauling. (Chair responded that trash issues should be reported; the BZA court reporter topic was placed in executive session.)
• William M. Davis (Commissioner, District 7): Called for an additional library and a functioning rec center in District 7; stated the district pays more property tax but receives fewer services; warned that if nothing changes, the city may need to return to citywide council representation. (Chair noted that an April announcement on a rec center at Rouge Park is forthcoming.)
• Detroit Resident: Urged the committee to examine the VZA budget regarding court transcriber contracts, criticizing charges of over $7 per page for transcripts; observed that litter is widespread outside downtown/DIA areas. (Chair stated that the court reporter conversation was moved to executive session.)
• Phone number ending 039: Referenced one‑minute limit, named individuals (Scott Vincent, Dennis Murphy), and claimed “the truth is the truth” regarding Kinesha not shooting herself and the 1st division of the Detroit Police Department.

Discussion Items

• 5.1 – Memorandum on State Revenue Sharing Trust Fund Resolutions (SB 559‑561, HB 311, 4312): Chair McCampbell explained that the city depends on state revenue sharing and that Detroit has not received its fair share; the resolutions seek to establish a trust fund to protect those funds from political interference. A motion to bring the item back in one month was approved without objection.
• 5.2 – Audit of ARPA Neighborhood Beautification Initiative Program Operations: Administration representatives Regina Greer (Chief Deputy CFO), Terry Daniels (Deputy CFO, Development & Grants), and Martha Potier (Neighborhood Economic Development) updated the committee. Corrective action responses had been drafted and were to be submitted by the end of the day. The project audited was fully expended; the SEED program had also been fully spent down, albeit with delays due to development financing. All five SEED recipient entities were to be provided. A question about Oracle contract amounts was clarified (expired contracts cannot incur overpayments). The item was received and filed on motion.
• 6.1 – Report on FY 2026‑2027 Mayor’s Proposed Budget and Four‑Year Financial Plan: Received and filed on motion (no further discussion).
• 6.2 – NEZ Certificate Application for 2505 Townsend Street (West Village): Presented by CPC staff Chris Gulak and developer John Boros (Kaylate Holdings). The project is a modularly constructed, three‑bedroom, three‑bath home on a 30 ft × 100 ft lot purchased from the Land Bank for $7,400 in November 2025. Build cost is $345,500; initial estimated sale price was $399,000, later revised to $439,000 due to finishing the basement. The house is already under construction (building permit issued October 2, 2025; NEZ application within the six‑month window). Developer aims for attainable homeownership ($300‑310 K for two‑bedroom, $350‑375 K for three‑bedroom on crawl space). Discussion covered community engagement, aesthetics (seamless fit), utility tap‑ins (lead line removal, DTE underground trenching), costs (modular not cheaper at single‑unit scale but speed reduces carrying costs), union labor (developer does not currently use union workers but was open to apprenticeship programs), and accessibility (future designs to be lowered; current house has wider clearances). The committee approved the application and sent it to formal session.
• 6.3 – Memorandum on Reducing Interest/Fees on Delinquent Property Taxes (Vice Chair Johnson): Brought back in one week to allow LPD to finalize the resolution.
• 6.4 – Memorandum on Moratorium on Property Tax Foreclosures for Owner‑Occupied Homes (Vice Chair Johnson): Chair McCampbell joined the resolution. LPD requested an additional week; the item was brought back in one week. (Note: Council President Sheffield had sponsored a similar resolution in the prior year.)
• 6.5 – Memorandum on FY 2026‑2027 Media Service Budget Questions (Member Miller): Brought back in two weeks.
• 6.6 – Memorandum on FY 2027 Budget & Municipal Parking Follow‑up (Chair McCampbell): Brought back in two weeks.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved.
• 5.1: Brought back in one month.
• 5.2: Received and filed.
• 6.1: Received and filed.
• 6.2: NEZ certificate application approved and forwarded to formal session.
• 6.3: Brought back in one week.
• 6.4: Brought back in one week (Chair McCampbell joined as co‑sponsor).
• 6.5: Brought back in two weeks.
• 6.6: Brought back in two weeks.
• Meeting adjourned; member reports were suspended by motion.