Taylor City Council Special Meeting - April 23, 2026: Budget and Millage Approvals

The Taylor City Council met in special session on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Taylor Municipal Building (23555 Goddard Rd., Taylor, MI). The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m., and all council members, the mayor, the clerk, and the treasurer were present. The council held a public hearing on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget (originally submitted April 1, 2026), approved the 2026 ad valorem tax levy, and adopted the General Appropriations Act and the FY 2025-2026 Omnibus Budget Amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The public hearing was noticed in a newspaper of general circulation on March 15, 2026. During the hearing, one speaker said they were very surprised and pleased with the openness of the budget process and thanked department heads for answering all questions.

Discussion Items

• Agenda and hearing motions: The council unanimously approved the agenda, voted to open the public hearing, and later voted to close it after receiving the comment.
• 2026 ad valorem tax levy (Agenda Item 4.4): The published agenda and draft resolution stated a rate of 24.8392 mills, but the council amended the motion to 24.8402 mills. CFO Jason Couture explained that Wayne County had submitted final equalization figures on Monday, including previously omitted veterans exemption taxable values, causing a 0.0001 mill difference. The approved levy of 24.8402 mills is 0.3930 mills below the 2025 rate. Total taxable value increased by approximately $102.4 million (5.6%) to $1,922,493,619 gross and $1,479,986,671 net of TIF captures. The Headlee millage reduction factor was 0.9929, and the Act 345 Police and Fire Retirement millage decreased by 0.2993 mills. The levy is expected to raise $37,807,639 net of TIF captures.
• Headlee and Truth in Taxation memo (Agenda Item 4.5): Mr. Couture explained that Headlee rollbacks cap levy growth at inflation and are cumulative and permanent unless voters approve an override. The Truth in Taxation base rate fraction for 2026 is 0.9668, and the hearing allowed the city to levy at the Headlee maximum and benefit from 2.7% inflation. The council received and filed the memo.
• 1% property tax administration fee (Agenda Item 4.6): Mr. Couture clarified the fee is a one percent charge on the total property tax bill (e.g., $4 on a $400 bill), not on taxable value, and requires annual council approval. The council approved the fee for 2026 bills.
• FY 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act and FY 2025-2026 Omnibus Budget Amendment (Agenda Item 4.7): The mayor thanked staff and the budget team, describing the budget as one of the toughest of his five budgets. The FY27 General Fund budget includes $54,591,656 in estimated revenue and $54,430,882 in appropriations, with an ending fund balance of $23,744,067. The council approved the resolution unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved, after amendment, the 2026 ad valorem tax levy rate of 24.8402 mills and authorized the clerk to certify the millage for collection.
• Received and filed the Headlee and Truth in Taxation calculations.
• Approved the 1% property tax administration fee for 2026 property tax bills.
• Adopted the City of Taylor General Appropriations Act for FY 2026-2027 and the Omnibus Budget Amendment for FY 2025-2026.
• Adjourned unanimously.