Taylor City Council Special Meeting - April 28, 2024

At a special meeting held at 2:00 PM on April 28, 2024, in the Taylor Municipal Building, the Taylor City Council reconvened the public hearing on the proposed 2024-2025 city budget, adopted the 2024 Ad Valorem Tax Levy, and approved the General Appropriations Act for FY 2024-2025 along with an omnibus budget amendment for FY 2023-2024. The meeting included extensive discussion on budgetary items including staffing levels, raises, new positions, and the use of ARPA funds.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: Motion to approve the agenda carried unanimously.
• Minutes Approval: Motion to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2024 meeting carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• An email from a member of the public was read aloud questioning why only select TGM and AEA employees were budgeted for raises outside of contractual obligations, noting that many went five years without increases. The chairman declined to discuss individual employee evaluations during the budget hearing.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing on 2024-2025 Proposed Budget: The council reopened the public hearing to discuss the budget. Several council members raised concerns and requests for information:
  • Councilwoman Brandana asked about raises beyond contractual increases, seeking transparency and requesting that any non-contractual raises or bonuses be brought before council as a receive-and-file item. The mayor agreed to provide monthly employee change reports showing such increases.
  • Councilwoman Daniels requested that the employee split report include departmental splits (e.g., 50% in one department, 50% in another) to improve clarity on staffing allocations. The administration agreed to work on producing that report.
  • Councilwoman Rose expressed concerns about two new positions in purchasing and planning, the growing IT budget, and the media center budget. She also asked about the sustainability of ARPA-funded initiatives once federal funds expire, noting that the city has not created legacy costs with ARPA money. The mayor confirmed ARPA funds are for one-time expenditures and that the fund balance is healthy.
  • Councilman Johnson supported the budget, noting strong fund balance and competitive pressures from Wayne County.
  • Mayor Woolley and other administration members defended new positions in planning and economic development as necessary for retaining talent, improving business recruitment, and modernizing IT systems. They noted the city is understaffed for its size and that new development is key to increasing revenues.

Key Outcomes

• 2024 Ad Valorem Tax Levy: Approved unanimously (motion by Councilman Johnson, supported by Councilwoman Brandana). The levy includes a total millage rate of 25.1040 mills, a decrease of 0.6078 mills from 2023, reflecting Headlee rollback and reduced Police/Fire pension millage.
• General Appropriations Act for FY 2024-2025 and Omnibus Budget Amendment for FY 2023-2024: Approved on a 4-2 roll-call vote. Voting yes: Councilmembers Winton, Brandana, Johnson, and Chairman Geiss. Voting no: Councilmembers Rose and Daniels, who cited concerns about new positions and lack of prior information.
• Commitment on Transparency: The mayor agreed to bring non-contractual raises and bonuses as a receive-and-file item on future council agendas, providing employee change reports (without individual names) on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The council secretary will handle placing them on the agenda as confidential items.
• Employee Split Report: Councilwoman Daniels' request for a report showing departmental splits for employees working in multiple departments will be refined via communication between the requesting council members and administration.