Detroit’s budget season didn’t end with applause or confetti. It ended the way real transformation often does in our city—late into the night, after takeout from Greektown, with leaders pushing paper and power around a table to deliver tangible outcomes for the people they serve.
On Monday night, the Detroit City Council closed out a month-long grind with the passage of a $3 billion budget. They revised roughly $36 million of Mayor Mike Duggan’s initial 2025-26 proposal to realign the city’s priorities with the lived realities of Detroiters—from affordable housing and youth jobs to senior transit and small business equity. This marks the 12th consecutive balanced budget since Detroit exited bankruptcy in 2014. It’s also Duggan’s final budget as mayor. His veto deadline stands at April 11, but with a two-thirds majority vote, the council has the authority to override.
Detroit’s financial structure stands on four legs: $432 million in income tax revenue, $292 million from casino wagering taxes, $174 million in property taxes, and $253 million in state revenue sharing. Duggan’s team points to strong reserves as a sign of security: $455 million in the Retiree Protection Fund and $150 million in the city’s Rainy Day Fund. Alongside this, $172.6 million is budgeted for legacy pension obligations. The city will add 216 full-time jobs, bringing its workforce to 11,363.
That’s the framework. What matters more is how this budget was restructured to meet everyday demands. Council members fought through frustration, pushback, and late-night negotiations to deliver for the neighborhoods they represent. While only $1.58 billion in discretionary spending was eligible for change, council reshaped 2% of the General Fund and 1% of the entire budget.
They used that space to move money toward the core of Detroit’s needs.
The Detroit Land Bank Authority lost all $5 million of its proposed city subsidy—down from $10.5 million last year. Council members justified the removal by citing the land bank’s $52 million in reserves. That redirection helped fund more urgent concerns. The Construction and Demolition Department lost $5 million, while $1 million was removed from a cleanup program focused on alleys, highways, and land bank properties.
Despite calls from transit advocates for a $16 million boost to transportation, the council managed to secure an extra $2 million for the Detroit Department of Transportation. DDOT Director Robert Cramer made clear that his department couldn’t absorb more than that without compromising service. “It gives us a lot to work on and a lot to work with,” Cramer said. “I’ve got to balance how far we can push with what we can realistically implement.”
The modest addition funds 100 accessible bus shelters and new driver hires, bringing DDOT’s budget to $211 million.
From there, every council member went to bat for their community.
Council President Mary Sheffield secured $2 million in one-time home repair funding alongside Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero. She added $1.5 million to support Detroit’s Legacy Business Program and restored $1 million in eviction prevention resources that had been eliminated. Her vision centered on small business empowerment and stability for longtime residents.
Sheffield’s budget achievements also included: $600,000 for a project manager in BSEED to streamline development support; $534,788 in recurring funding to retain citizen complaint investigators with the Board of Police Commissioners; $500,000 to restore Goal Line Detroit with co-sponsorship from Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway; and $500,000 for Smart City tech entrepreneurial grants.
Council President Pro Tem James Tate Jr. focused on workforce development in Brightmoor, securing $1 million to launch an upskilling program and $500,000 for universal housing design vouchers. He also added $190,000 for the James E. Tate Community Center and $107,445 to keep Crowell Recreation Center open on Saturdays.
Angela Whitfield-Calloway lifted up recycling and senior access needs. She secured $500,000 for more recycling bins, $50,000 to reimburse citizens on blight patrol for mileage, and co-sponsored funding for senior transportation to the Detroit Zoo. She also helped lease vans to expand youth employment programs.
“This budget is primarily focused on enhancing the overall quality of life for Detroit residents,” shared Whitfield-Calloway. “We’ve allocated funding to address homelessness, and for the first time, we’ve included money for the Community Land Trust Fund. We’re introducing recycling bins citywide, something we’ve never had before. We’ve also championed after-school tutoring programs and advocated for the Lead Paint Encapsulation Program, which will help bring more safe and affordable housing units back onto the market. These are just a few of the key initiatives in this budget, which is truly representative of the people’s budget.”
Scott Benson secured one of the largest arts investments in the city’s recent memory: $2 million in capital support and $700,000 in operations funding for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, increasing the budget to $5.3 million. He also funded a new groomed pathway at Derby Hill Park, and supported three new property inspectors at BSEED to address code enforcement issues.
Latisha Johnson zeroed in on transparency. She secured $200,000 to build a public website that tracks development project statuses, and emphasized the need to fund Community Land Trusts to deliver affordable housing for low-income residents. “Developers and investors can’t afford to provide low-income housing without the government’s help,” Johnson stated.
Gabriela Santiago-Romero pushed for equity in her district by co-sponsoring housing repair funds with Sheffield and adding $1.35 million to increase salary support across council offices. She also funded a shelter at Kemeny Park, added language access positions to CRIO, and secured staffing to respond to police complaints.
Fred Durhal III—the council’s Budget Chair—delivered an extensive portfolio of changes. His list includes $775,000 for Rouge Park upgrades, $673,000 for new bus seats, $750,000 to upgrade Shed 4 at Eastern Market, and $500,000 to strengthen Motor City Match. He also championed funding to fully support the Office of Disability Affairs, expand legislative search tools, and create student pipelines to skilled trades.
“The passage of this budget is another testament of Detroit’s remarkable comeback,” shared Durhal. “This year, we faced unique challenges as ARPA funds were largely expended and pension payments resumed following our bankruptcy reprieve. Although we faced financial constraints, my colleagues and I on the Detroit City Council worked collaboratively to ensure the funding of our highest priorities were funded. We ensure housing, public safety, transportation, infrastructure, and neighborhood investments—remained funded. I am confident about our city’s future, and I know that with discipline, transparency, and cooperation, we will continue to deliver the resources that Detroiters need. We will also reinforce our city’s commitment to long-term fiscal stability.”
Council Member Coleman Young II backed innovation and marketing, directing funds toward air taxi studies, 0% interest home repair loans, and recurring support for the Green Grocer Program. He co-sponsored the Kemeny Park shelter and helped fund new positions to support the Board of Review.
At-large Council Member Mary Waters doubled the Detroit Historical Museum’s funding, added $500,000 for workforce housing improvements, and secured $500,000 for a voter education campaign. She also increased staffing for the Veterans Affairs Office and supported young entrepreneurs through NextUp 313.
Another major shift came from the reallocation of unused federal dollars. Council redirected $5 million in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funding toward homelessness services. The remaining $9.4 million was divided among the nine council offices for use on existing ARPA programs—marking the first time Duggan’s administration handed over control of a lump sum to the legislative body.
Council didn’t get everything they asked for. Members started with $86 million in changes spread across 258 line items. By Friday night, they had narrowed it to $36.5 million. They gave up favored projects to meet that final figure—balancing ambition with fiscal responsibility.
That compromise didn’t come easy.
“This proposed budget is an incredible show of support already,” DDOT Director Robert Cramer reminded transit advocates. “I’ve got to balance how far we can push with what we can realistically implement.”
“We made concessions to work within the available funding,” said Council President Pro Tem James Tate Jr. “But there’s a lot more I would have loved to put in here.”
The final budget isn’t just numbers on paper. It’s a cultural ledger. It speaks to where Detroit has been, who continues to push it forward, and how it plans to carry the weight of community need into a new administration. This budget was shaped by people who understand that potholes and policy both matter, that housing justice means more than ribbon-cuttings, and that a city’s future isn’t found in press releases—it’s forged in midnight votes, with Fishbone’s takeout and firm resolve.
“While we certainly haven’t been able to meet every need or address every priority, our closing resolution is illustrative of our commitment and intent to continue to listen to our constituents and work towards creating opportunities, delivering services and addressing the needs of all residents,” said Sheffield. “Moving forward, I know we are all committed to seeking out new revenue streams to continue to grow the greatest City on earth – the City of Detroit.”
Detroit’s future will be determined by how effectively these funds reach the streets, how faithfully city departments implement new programs, and how fiercely residents hold leadership accountable for every dollar moved. Council President Mary Sheffield and Council Member Fred Durhal III won’t return in their current roles. They’re running to lead the city as mayor.
“Lastly, this year brings to a close 12th and final budget cycle as a member of City Council, and it has been my honor to serve the residents of Detroit as well as alongside my wonderful colleagues during the process,” Sheffield shared.
That transition makes this budget more than a financial closeout—it’s a handoff. A torch passed not with ceremony, but with clarity and purpose. And with this budget, Detroit isn’t simply keeping books balanced. It’s keeping promises.
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