Finance and Order Standard Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026
Finance and Order Standard Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026
This meeting of the Finance and Order Standard Committee on May 6, 2026, included a lengthy public comment period addressing city finances, services, and transparency; a detailed presentation on the February 2026 Revenue Estimating Conference and long-term fiscal forecast; discussion and approval of two Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate applications; and approval of a no-cost contract for deferred compensation services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Owner Papa expressed frustration with general fund revenue estimates, arguing the city is not spending its own money wisely, pointing to dwindling funds, tax breaks for Corktown and corporate interests, and the need for a recreation center in District 7. He called for federal intervention.
- William M. Davis urged the city to do more for Detroit retirees and average workers, advocated for residency requirements for appointees and high-paid city employees (citing that 75% of rank-and-file police and 85% of command staff live outside Detroit), and supported greater circulation of city dollars.
- Blackbag alleged election fraud, stating he has six affidavits in federal court of voters appearing on rolls without having voted, and referenced the February 27 primary. He announced his candidacy for the Michigan Senate District 3 and criticized Councilmember McCampbell.
- Betty A. Varner (president of DeSoda Elsewhere Black Association) advocated for seniors and disabled residents, provided information about the Helping Hands program, and reiterated the need for funding for her corridor.
- Mr. Foster called for quarterly audits of programs and funds, emphasizing accountability for the city's $2.4–2.7 billion annual budget over a decade. He urged the committee to audit all programs and replace unproductive ones.
- Joanne Ward raised multiple issues: cuts to trees at 129 Parkhurst for a solar plan without full title; inconsistent enforcement of boarding-up rules (citing the Land Bank's nuisance abatement); a 26-day overdue FOIA request; failures of the election commission and Inspector General; lack of mental health services; and non-inclusive Plan Detroit process.
- Tyson Gersh criticized lack of transparency in department spending, specifically regarding BZA transcripts and the city's budget reports. He called for reactivation of the Open Checkbook Detroit platform.
- Judante Smith discussed lack of accountability for a property at 451 East Grand Boulevard with an NEZ but no renovations; over-assessments for lots that are now vacant; connectivity issues between city departments; and support for disbanding the Land Bank.
Discussion Items
- Revenue Estimating Conference Report (5.1) and Long-Term Fiscal Forecast (5.2): Sean Tobin (Deputy Director of Strategic Finance and Analytics), Erica Mooney (Senior Economist), and Valeria Goli (Deputy CFO/Treasurer) presented the February 2026 Revenue Estimating Conference, which sets revenues for fiscal year 2027. Total revenues are estimated at $2.646 billion, with $1.4 billion to the general fund. Key findings: wage and employment trends show slow growth, with a persistent gap between wages of Detroit residents and wages of jobs located in the city. Income tax revenue was revised downward for FY2026 due to corporate tax changes (impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill”), but FY2027 is expected to stabilize. Wagering tax continues to grow. State revenue sharing remains uncertain. The city maintains a reserve of about $150 million (5% of general fund). Councilmembers Johnson, Waters, and Chair McCampbell asked about wage disparities, industry composition, and the reserve for corporate income tax. The report and forecast were received and filed.
- NEZ Certificate Application – 4151 Dickerson Avenue (6.2): Chris Gulach (CPC staff) and contractor Richard Fowler presented a proposal to rehab a vacant duplex (boarded up, previously on demolition list) purchased from the Land Bank for $7,600. Total investment estimated at $70,000–$100,000 per unit, to be rented at about $1,150/month (60–80% AMI). Fowler’s company self-performs work and employs 90% Detroiters. Councilmembers praised the use of returning citizens and local workforce. Discussion on ADA accessibility (ramp limitations due to lot size). Approved and sent to formal.
- NEZ Certificate Application – 84 Edmund Place (6.3): Developer Randy Arnold (born in Detroit, now returning) and consultant Scott Sittner proposed construction of two new buildings with nine condo units in Brush Park, with prices ranging from $650,000 to $1.5 million. Profits will fund affordable housing projects elsewhere. Project uses Detroit-based contractors and union labor where available. Parking: each unit has indoor garage plus street parking. Accessibility: units can be customized. Approved and sent to formal.
- Walk-on Contract – Empower Retirement (No. 6007750): Human Resources Director Denise Starr presented a no-cost five-year agreement to consolidate the city’s deferred compensation (457) plans from four vendors to one (Empower). Benefits: lower participant fees (from $41/year to $14/year), higher stable value fund rate (4.25% first year), and a loan provision. Employees can enroll at any time. Approved and sent to formal.
Key Outcomes
- Approved/Received and Filed: Minutes of previous meeting; reports 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.10, 5.12, 5.13–5.17, 5.19, 5.21; and walk-on contract 6007750.
- Brought back in one week: Items 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.22, 5.23, and 6.1 (audit observations).
- Brought back in two weeks: Items 5.5, 5.18, 5.20, 6.5 (liability and surety bonds amendment), and 6.6 (memorandum on closing the wage gap).
- Approved and sent to formal: NEZ applications 6.2 and 6.3.
- Suspended member reports and adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Finance and order standard committee of Wednesday, May 6, 2026 to order. Or the clerk please call the roll. Councilmember Denzel Anto McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. President. Mr. Chair, you have a coin present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. That moves on to the approval of the minutes. Members of the committee should have received a copy of the minutes. And with that, is there a motion to approve? Motion. It's been a motion to approve the minutes. See no objections. The minister stand approved. That'll move us on to chair remarks. I do not have chair remarks today. We'll open public comment. A request for public comment will close at 10 p.m. Um you have two minutes for your public comments. Seeing no folks in the room with us in person right now, we'll move over to those joining us virtually. If you are on Zoom or participating remotely, please use the raise hand feature, and you will be called in order. Who do we have on Zoom now? Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. As of right now, we have 10 hands raised. And our first caller is Owner Papa. Ms. Hughes, good afternoon. You have two minutes. Are you there? Good afternoon. Good afternoon. And through the chair, may I be her? Yes, you may, good afternoon. Today we have the revenue discussion. And I would like for you to take a look at the the uh the general fund um revenue estimates that have looked worse and worse. This this body that sits here today, along with the mayor who was in, you know, has been president, and even the president before city council president before that city council president. We see our funds dwindling. We need certain things. We have funds that come from uh we have extra surplus taxes that we can't use for anything that we need, but we can plug corporate taxes that we have supplemented for many many years, but we we can't take our money, and this is our money, and uh you you know it's not coming from the government or it's not coming from the state. This is our money, and we should be allowed to spend our money for things that we need, not to then support other things that um the organizations need because that is not our problem. Our problem is that in district seven, we have no rec center. We can build one. We don't need to wait on philanthropy to do what we can do for ourselves. And I'm a little tired of you telling us that we need to go beg somebody else while we're giving people like Sheila Cockroach's area, Corktown, white folks, huge discounts in their taxes that are that is dwindling the general fund. And then and then we get we get we also get what we call um user utility tax.
openpublica.com