The Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole (Budget and Finance Committee) convened on April 29, 2026, to address a lengthy agenda including public comment, numerous budget-related memos, a financial report for the seven months ended February 28, 2026, a resolution for fiscal transfers to implement the Executive Organization Plan, a write-off of uncollectible accounts, a risk management quarterly report, a neighborhood enterprise zone certificate, and the re‑establishment of e‑scooter fee schedules. The committee took multiple votes, deferring some items and approving others.
Councilmember Waters thanked the last speaker and indicated the council would request additional information on the nuisance abatement program.
Budget Memos (Items 5.1–5.35): The committee processed a long series of budget memos, many from council members. Most were either brought back in one or two weeks for further information, or received and filed. Notable actions include:
6.1 – Monthly Financial Report: Donnie Johnson (Deputy CFO) and Mr. Nobarr (Deputy Treasurer) presented the report for seven months ended February 28, 2026. Key points:
6.2 – Resolution for Fiscal Year 2025‑2026 Transfers for Executive Organization Plan Amendments: Donnie Johnson explained the budget amendment moves resources and employees to new department structures (e.g., homeless services from HRD to HHFS). He answered questions about how amounts were calculated, employee transitions, and oversight. The committee approved the resolution to send to formal session with a recommendation for approval.
6.3 – Write‑off of Uncollectible Accounts Receivable: Deputy Treasurer and Revenue Collections Manager Ladonna Johnson presented a $1.1 million write‑off, the final cleanup after previous large write‑offs ($125M in 2024, $75M in 2025). Categories include delinquent personal property tax, misc. accounts receivable, and pre‑bankruptcy items. Councilmembers Waters and Johnson questioned collection methods and timing. The resolution was approved.
6.4 – Risk Management Quarterly Report: Attorney Graham Anderson presented the settlements report but noted the law department cannot discuss details in open session. The committee brought the item back in two weeks to allow for written questions.
6.5 – Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Certificate (2153 Hubbard St.): Chris Gulag (CPC staff) and petitioner Philip Hilliard presented a rehab project for a single‑family house in the Hubbard Farms NEZ. Hilliard plans to spend $45,000 in rehab and rent at $1,700‑1,900/month. Councilmembers discussed affordability, accessibility, and use of Detroit‑based contractors. The certificate was approved.
6.6 – E‑Scooter Fee Schedule and Permit Rankings: Ryan Michael (Deputy Chief of Business Innovation) and Sam Krasenstein (Deputy Director of DPW) presented. Two operators (Lime and Spin) were recommended after a scoring process. Fee adjustments include a 25‑cent trip fee for high‑frequency (downtown) areas and 5 cents elsewhere. Councilmembers Waters and Johnson asked about community engagement, data privacy, and equitable distribution across council districts. The item was approved.
Miscellaneous Budget Memos (6.7–6.13): Items 6.7, 6.9, 6.10, 6.12, and 6.13 were received and filed; 6.8 and 6.11 were brought back in one week.
29th 2026. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Good afternoon. Councilmember Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Chairman McCampbell indicated that he is running late, but he's on his way. No, Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. And we will move to the agenda and the approval of the minutes. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. There's a motion to approve the minutes. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to move into public comment. If there's anyone joining us in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. And I'm going to do as the chairman does. Public comment will be cut off at 10. So please raise your hand prior to that if you'd like to make a public comment. And Madam Clerk, will you please note that member McCampbell has joined us? Clerk will now. Thank you. And I'll give him an opportunity to get comfortable. Um, thank you for setting the clock to two minutes. And seeing no hands raised in the committee of the whole, how many hands do we have present virtually? I'm sure currently we have seven hands raised. Okay. We can get started with the first virtual caller. Our first caller is William M. Davis. Good afternoon, Commissioner Davis. You have two minutes for a general public comment. Uh good afternoon, young people. Can I be heard? Yes. Okay, I like to start off by saying something I've said previously. I think the city of Detroit should be exploring all the various authorities that we have, especially in these entities that we actually, the taxpayers of the city of Detroit paid for. Like the past two weekends, I've been going to uh events at Huntington Place, and the parking is horrible down there and it's very expensive. Uh, I don't know if y'all remember one time there was a cobalt authority. I don't know if y'all remember, but the citizens of the city of Detroit paid for what was Cobo Ha. You know, I think we should be exploring ways to see if we could get some um monies from these entities that we used to own and operate and control that now have been taken over by let's say the outsiders, and you know, we we should try to receive some type of benefit. You know, I would feel more comfortable paying 25 hours to park there if I knew $10 was going to the city of Detroit. Uh also the the lease agreement that the Great Lakes Water Authority has with the city of Detroit is totally inadequate, and that we end up paying a portion of the lease for ourselves. That's crazy. And you know, the lease payment, if it was fair, if it was done fairly, would be much more than what it is. So I think we should be exploring all these authorities. I think we should be trying to get rid of many as we can, or at least have more voice in them.