Detroit City Council Budget Executive Session - April 6, 2026
Detroit City Council Budget Executive Session - April 6, 2026
This meeting of the expanded Budget, Finance, and Audit Standing Committee continued its executive session deliberations on the city's proposed FY2027 budget. Councilmembers reviewed dozens of line items, approving adjustments to funding allocations, removing pins on items previously held, and setting closing resolution language. Key discussions focused on the use of remaining ARPA funds, support for affordable housing, police and fire department budgets, retiree benefits, and community infrastructure projects. The committee also addressed several citizen requests during public comment.
Consent Calendar
- Several items were approved without objection, including removal of pins and adoption of closing resolution language for various line items. Specific items included approval of the $225,000 one-time allocation for media services (line 135), the $210,000 one-time increase for the Board of Police Commissioners (line 108), and the amended amounts for the Black Bottom Archives (line 124 reduced to $100,000) and the Detroit Historical District Alliance (line 123 reduced to $100,000).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Speaker (in person) urged the council to advocate for reinstatement of the Board of Fire Commissioners, citing the example of a former fire headquarters building sold for $1.3 million now worth four times that.
- Speaker (in person) cautioned against increased police presence in parks, advocating for alternative services and proportional funding for oversight agencies. Also requested that draft closing resolutions be made publicly available before the final vote.
- Caller (Betty A. Varner) – President of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association, requested funding for the Finkel Corridor, stating that residents have been committed to their community for 50+ years and deserve equal treatment.
- Caller criticized the council for not funding oversight committees and demanded a new rec center using surplus tax dollars.
- Caller (William M. Davis) – Former Detroit police commissioner, urged adjustments to the police contract to ensure compliance with the charter regarding discipline, and criticized the promotion of officers with bad records.
- Caller – Thanked council for increasing traffic calming budget but requested inclusion of East Werner and Charlevoy streets near schools.
Discussion Items
- Fellowship Chapel Housing (Line 148): Councilmember Callaway discussed the Fellowship Chapel affordable housing project, which has a $2 million funding gap. Director Julie Schneider (HRD) noted the project did not apply for LIHTC in the April 1 round and that the next application deadline is October 1. The $2 million allocation was removed from the line item, and the pin was removed, with a note to encourage the nonprofit to apply for the October round.
- ARPA Funds (Line 47): Deputy CFO Terry Daniels reported that 87% of the $126 million in ARPA funds are spent, with $103 million tied up in existing projects. Councilmember Waters requested clarity on reallocating unspent funds. The administration committed to identifying funds for reallocation within the next month. The item was placed in closing resolution with discussion.
- Board of Police Commissioners (Line 108): Councilmember McCampbell moved to add $210,000 one-time ($100,000 for community engagement, $110,000 for training/travel) to the BOPC budget, citing the need for robust civilian oversight and community outreach. Approved without objection.
- Black Bottom Archives (Line 123 and 124): Councilmember Miller moved to reduce funding for the Black Bottom Archives development to $300,000 for museum interior, and for the Detroit Historical District Alliance to $100,000. Both were approved.
- Media Services (Line 135): Council President Tate moved to approve $225,000 one-time for media services to support recording of Board of Review, CPC, and BOPC meetings. Some councilmembers discussed the need for additional staffing for city council, but the motion passed. The pin was removed.
- Retiree Funding (Line 18): Councilmember Waters moved to remove the $1.93 million allocation and place in closing resolution, with a commitment from the administration to use future surplus dollars to address the disparity in 13th checks between general and police/fire retirees. Approved.
- Fire Department Capital Needs: Council President Tate raised concerns about firehouse capital improvements, citing feedback from firefighters. CFO Johnson stated that a comprehensive assessment of fire facilities will be procured, with a report expected by next year's budget cycle. A closing resolution was approved to track and address firehouse repair issues.
- Boston Edison Infrastructure (Line 138): Councilmember Waters moved to remove the $2.5 million allocation and place in closing resolution, with the administration committing to provide a resource guide for community groups and explaining the constitutional lending of credit prohibition. Approved.
- City Council Administration (Line 234): Councilmember Benson initially sought $1 million for council offices, but discussion led to a request for $300,000 for an economic development study (District 6) and $100,000 for council administration staff. The study funds were pinned for further discussion on how to preserve them. The $300,000 rollover was discussed with the Office of Sustainability FTE also added.
- Park Security (Line 201): Councilmember Benson moved to shift $300,000 from GSD to DPD for park patrol, citing safety concerns and lack of enforcement. After debate, the motion passed despite objections about budget cuts to police non-personnel items.
- Neighborhood Improvement Fund (Line added): Councilmember Johnson added $75,000 one-time for Jefferson Chalmers in support of the pump station development. Approved.
Key Outcomes
- Approved funding adjustments: Multiple line items were amended and approved, including $210,000 for BOPC, $225,000 for media services, $300,000 for park patrol (to DPD), $75,000 for Jefferson Chalmers, and reduced amounts for Black Bottom Archives and Historical District Alliance.
- Removed pins: Pins were removed from items 47, 108, 124, 135, 138, 163, 237, and others after discussion and approval.
- Closing resolutions: The council approved closing resolutions for several items, including ARPA reallocation (line 47), retiree funding (line 18), Boston Edison (line 138), and fire department capital needs.
- Recurring funding source: To fund recurring items totaling $2,100,200, the committee agreed to cut $1,982,200 from the police department's non-personnel budget (including equipment and services) and $118,000 from the Board of Review's proposed budget. The Office of Sustainability FTE ($130,000) was not needed, reducing the total recurring ask.
- Next steps: The committee will reconvene on April 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM to finalize the budget, with a revised spreadsheet (draft 4) expected by 7:00 PM on April 6. A special session at 4 PM on April 7 is also scheduled.
- Public comment concluded: The meeting moved to public comment and then adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. We'd like to now call back to order the PM portion of our executive session, which is part of the expanded budget finance and audit standing committee. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Renata Miller. Councilmember She is here, but we're trying to see. Oh, she's joining now. Okay. We're going to allow her when she pops up to join. Miller, if you hear us, say here when you when you get on. I am here. All right, there you go. Oh, okay. She's here. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Here. President Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. President. Council President Pro Temporar Coman A. Young the Second. Council President James Tate. Mr. President, you have a quorum present. Thank you, ma'am. We have a quorum present with means with now in session. Mr. Corley, I was asked if because uh Julie Snyder, Director Schneider is at training, uh, and she was able to kind of pill away from that training. If we can take up the item that uh deals with uh her space, and I was told that was 148, that's member Callaway's item. If we can take that one up first, 148 148. That is, and for the record for those who are watching, line item 148 is discuss the city's willingness to support in supporting and rehabbing the 12 to 13 properties identified by HRD for the historic buildings in district two. We did approve the closing resolution language for that particular item, but I believe that there was a request for an additional conversation on that item. Yes. All right. And uh Director Schneider is available and she's on screen right now as we speak. Director Snyder, please introduce yourself for record. Make sure you can hear us. Good afternoon, Julie Schneider, director of the housing and revitalization department. Um for clarification, I thought I was on to discuss fellowship estates. You know, this is what happened when you get uh all the ripe age of 51. Your eyes don't uh your eyes deceive you sometimes. Uh the six sometimes look like eight. So I was reading 146. I apologize. 148 is an increased budget to uh provide two million in gap funding to the fellowship chapel housing project. So again, I apologize, colleagues.
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