Public Hearing on the Budget
Detroit City Council2 Woodward Ave Detroit 48226 (Directions)
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Erma Henderson Auditorium, 13th Floor
Check the source website for additional information
Assignment
Closed
Hello! Are you ready to build a new public record? Become a Documenter
Already a Documenter? Sign In
After you've attended at least 1 Documenters orientation, you'll be able to take on paid assignments.
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
City Council heard public comment on the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. Residents advocated for better housing and support for seniors. Nearly all commenters spoke in support of adding $150 million to DDOT’s budget. The council’s final vote on the budget is April 7.
The public is invited to join tonight’s hearing in-person, via Zoom, or via phone.
To join In Person: Head to 2 Woodward Ave Detroit 48226 (Directions) Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Erma L. Henderson Auditorium, 13th Floor
To Join remotely, visit https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council.
To view the agenda, visit https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=210031
The primary focus of this meeting, which is hosted by Detroit City Council’s BUDGET, FINANCE AND AUDIT STANDING COMMITTEE (Expanded to include all Nine (9) City Council Members), is to hear public comment.
To be honest, public comment is typically my favorite part of city meetings. I find it super interesting to hear different perspectives and to help give Detroiters a voice through Detroit Documenters by creating live reporting.
IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
I’m going to join via Zoom at 5pm.
“See” you there! xoMegs
Alright, y’all. I’m on the Zoom and just waiting for meeting to officially start.
Meeting called to order at 5:06pm.
Quorum is reached.
Purpose of this gathering is to conduct a public hearing as required in accordance with section 8-2 of Detroit City Charter.
Total is $3.2 Billion across all city operations and budget sections.
Proposed budget is on CFO City of Detroit site
This is a proposed budget, put forward by Mayor Duggan.
To access ALL the documents under review during this process, visit https://detroitmi.gov/departments/office-chief-financial-officer/ocfo-divisions/office-budget
-District 1 woman advocating for Access Detroit
-Another resident advocates for adopting critical updates to budget to support disabled residents get around the city, double DDOT’s budget by 2030, Dot faces chronic underfunding. Increases to housing budget overall ALSO supported to build out ramps
Same commenter: Tough for Disabled Detroiters to have housing the meets their needs to be safely in and out of residences.
New commenter: Detroit Disability Power District 4 Resident advocating for accessible affordable housing, transit, and public spaces. Double DDOT.
-Bring Paratransit services in house at DDOT, fully fund office of disability affairs to work across departments to integrate and serve as one stop shop for disabled Detroiters to navigate housing, DDOT, and public services.
-Advocacy Director at Detroit Disability Power supporting increases $$
Advocacy Director says they’re ready to release a full report, urges City Council to review their work, some locations just don’t have the upgrades needed to make it so voters can’t access voting stations. Updating these structures for voting means also upgrading them for wider use
“Double DDOT” advocate, recently unemployed person says it’s hard to move around.
WOW, these folks are AMAZINGLY well-organized. Go transit advocates!!!
Sierra Club, District 5 resident says high insurance premiums, lack of economic mobility continue historic segregation and inequality
same commenter says budget will support bold reimagining of DDOT to ensure accessibility and access.
8 year resident supporting DDOT Reimagined Plan. DSA member. Double DDOT Campaign.
Raise allocation to $150 million from general funds. 1/3 of Detroiters do NOT have reliable transportation. Ppl deserve to get places on time and with dignity.
(As a DDOT and Smartbus rider, I totally agree!!!!)
Another resident wants DDOT Reimagined to move forward, wants DDOT’s budget to be monitored and City Council should ensure that budget is spent fully, need support to make sure employees are appropriately compensated.
We need people who want to work there and do the work.
Asks everyone to ride!
Resident advocating for ROBUST, PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS, increase funding for office of disability affairs so that there are advocates on the city level supporting folks with disabilities. Moral priorities for the city.
These have all be STELLAR comments!
District 3 resident says the City Council needs to support fixing the transit system. Without that, Detroit can not sustainably grow.
Public Transit advocates continuing....only 5% bus stops in Detroit have a shelter, let alone a place to sit down.
Wants everyone to do their homework.
Advocating for bus shelters and places for residents and benches. City is not taking care of its own residents. 150 million from General Fund should go to DDOT. Thanks Council for hand warmers gloves. What a sweetheart. Why is QLine and People Mover free for out of towners while Detroiters suffer?
Another female advocate: Make DDOT a viable transit system. We are well below what we should be contributing to public transit. We pay our taxes. It doesn’t make sense that DDOT is underfunded. It’s unfair to regular residents. Drivers need raises, residents need to get places on time.
Transit Rider and activist asking council to support up to $150 million in additional funds for DDOT.
District 7 Resident transferring to District 2: His work is in restaurant industry. Night buses are packed. Keep buses running all night. Citing Dexter and Fenkel buses.
lol a woman calling stranded people “Strandasos”
Another resident says he waited so long for bus that his phone died! He had to go to Whole Foods to charge it.
Feels awful to then get on a crowded bus full of sad, downtrodden ppl. Ppl bond over this. So many ppl it felt dangerous.
OMG! 27 ppl raised hands on ZOOM!!!
Now they’re on virtual comments (in person comments are over)
(The time to raise hands in person and virtually is over).
OOPs. Overlap of Zooms for City Meetings. Fixed now.
Virtual comments:
Detroit Peoples Platform advocate: affordable units with 3-4 bedrooms are needed! Folks living unhoused have deep issues accessing resources. Housing insecurity is a very real and present threat. Duggan needs to allocate $$.
(cont) Community Land Trust, equitable infrastructure, challenges council to review strategies that address lack of housing and serving the needs of the unhoused.
-Affordable Housing advocate: supports increases, citing exact numbers. Support our solutions.
Virginia Park resident says participatory budget process is not adequate. Loans versus Grants, incoming Mayor should revise Duggan’s strategy.
Warriors on Wheels, lived in Detroit, now in Dearborn because lack of affordable housing. Put 10$ million in Housing trust fund.
Female speaker “Can’t have a world class city WITHOUT world class transportation”. Says cost of transcript 50.2-66 services of over $6.75 per page. Honor FOIA requests.
New speaker: have compassion for residents w/o cars. It’s “first class city for some, poverty-stricken for others Need safe buses
Friends of Rouge Park advocate wants $$ to fund bus services to Detroit’s largest park. Celebrating big party anniversary (100? or 150 years)
75, almost 76 Year Old resident wants to say in her HOME! Fund Detroit home accessibility program. Home repair program! Continue Senior programs!
Male Detroit Peoples Platform advocate, commends City Council for their Hard work trying to prioritize so many inbound requests and shifting needs.
Female commenter from District 5 West Grand Blvd Collaborative member: Need more balance and creativity around community development. Land trusts!
Female SW Detroiter commenting on Language Access, esp during times of emergency, specifically in 2020 and now around the water mane break and continued stress:
District 6 DDOT Advocate calling in sick (sad he can’t be in person rallying outside of mtg Bldg, longtime bus route (Grand River) took him to high school. Locals need to shop, travel around, connect with friends/family, hard to own a car in Detroit. We should have right to move freely w/o car.
“Detroit has alway risen to the occasion when faced with big challenges”----District 6 resident, calling in from home to show support while ill.
Male District 5 resident: Increase DDOT to $150million to fund equitable and just transit system.
Another M D5 Resident calls for double DDOT.
Male caller works at elder justice initiative, Mychoice program, PACE etc. supports fully funding disability departments and services. Solutions to problems ppl face span City departments and nonprofits. Siloed departments, calls for more strategic integration around problem-solving.
Council says will resume budget deliberations Wednesday, final budget votes will happen by Monday April 7.
Meeting adjourned at 6:31pm.
The next public Detroit City Council meeting is tomorrow morning, Tuesday April 1st at 10am. See the Source website for more details https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council and to access the agenda and joining information.
Next budget-specific work resumes for council members on Wednesday.
This concludes my coverage of the March 2025 Detroit Detroit City Council Public Hearing on the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget for the City of Detroit (Office of Budget).
For more meeting coverage, head to https://detroit.documenters.org/.
Attachments
2 attachments
Agency Information
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Council is responsible for the creation of local laws—called ordinances. Additionally they pass resolutions, motions, and the proposed city budget. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council. Areas of responsibility for the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee include, Budget, Finance and the Auditor General.
City Council members are elected on the same cycle as the Mayor and will be elected in 2021. Seven members represent the seven council districts, while two members are elected at-large.