Detroit City Council Approves $2.8 Billion Budget with Amendments

The Detroit City Council recently finalized the city’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, setting it at $2.8 billion after incorporating $33 million in amendments to the initial proposal by Mayor Mike Duggan. This unanimous decision came after a series of departmental hearings that lasted about a month, followed by a week of intensive discussions focused on additional investments. In a lengthy session that started at 11 a.m. and concluded just before midnight, the council also approved the pay schedule for city employees, outlined plans for the allocation of surplus funds, and requested that the mayor’s administration identify potential future funding sources for other priority areas. A key component of the approved budget is the $1.4 billion General Fund, which is primarily supported by income tax revenues expected to be around $397 million. Other significant revenue sources include $257 million from casino taxes and $162 million from property taxes, with an additional $245 million coming from state revenue sharing. The budget introduces a modest reduction in the property tax rate allocated for debt repayment, lowering it from 8 mills to 7 mills, while maintaining the 19.952-mill tax rate for city operations. Highlighted investments in the budget encompass capital improvements for...