[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6110072,"mediaKeyId","2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5","parentId",2759069,"title","Public commenters allege absentee-vote irregularities and challenge UTGO use for new department","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",79035,"endMs",256858,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5&start=79&end=256","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5/thumbnail_79035.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110072/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Public-commenters-allege-absentee-vote-irregularities-and-challenge-UTGO-use-for-new-department","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110072-ee525daf347d113b6870cef46992846c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773647816&Signature=HKXik-~YO7FiZFz2vv~Ol3kEBp1fLoG-NP9SUgQvJt8qbIp7l70I~rJhvUV2Tgn6qB1wGEDPpFfZsUEo5he8d3d2mfJNekDx3RKWhYAiqPoDLk5iwPsBSn4cosZ4S6PIM5EYV7YWxvXvB0Qv5YtRNLdjDYRzpOSa4sf5GkvzNI~HBTTLgTboCpkmPBXaEeHPAdw4D28mbTu2DP-Pzhe5HsQi0O20GS-uH4GNnzYmJwmoJXi8H6bdJ1n1Ww-Jj0qWA4-Ypy8UU4eAevHgb0D830QkRusuIgsjaElrGYOYEHQ96BobrIe3TudmtrE6WlgEHncsSbG9J28WVAkhgZ7DPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Detroit, MI ","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","Two members of the public used the committee's one-minute public-comment slots on March 19 to raise allegations about voter-roll accuracy and to criticize proposed use of UTGO (unlimited-tax general obligation) bonds.

Malik Shelton, identifying himself as from District 3, said he had \"a number of notarized affidavits\" in which people swore they did not vote though their names appear on the voting rolls. Shelton said the affidavits are available for review and that some listed on the rolls have \"never voted in their whole life.\" Shelton also stated that using UTGO bonds to establish a new construction-and-demolition department and to pay its day-to-day operations would be illegal because, in his view, the voters did not approve such use.

A virtual caller who identified as \"Monkey Wrench Roo\" and spoke by the name Kelsey supported Shelton's claims and accused city officials and election staff of wrongdoing in recent elections. The caller urged federal law enforcement involvement.

Committee staff opened and closed public comment as required by the agenda; no formal action or committee response is recorded in the transcript on March 19. The statements by Shelton and the virtual caller are allegations; the committee record does not document verification of the claims during the hearing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Detroit City Council Budget Finance and Audit 03-19-2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment Malik Shelton and a virtual caller alleged that notarized affidavits show people listed on the voter rolls did not vote and argued the city's use of unlimited-tax general obligation (UTGO) bonds to fund a construction-and-demolition department is illegal; committee did not act on the claims.","taxTitle","Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",48464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6110077,"Committee advances $40 license for ducks and chickens; honeybees excluded from licensing",182,1932390,2114998,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5&start=1932&end=2114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5/thumbnail_1932390.jpg","/articles/6110077/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Committee-advances-40-license-for-ducks-and-chickens-honeybees-excluded-from-licensing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110077-ac81cfd253d7e319951099b07e9946d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773647816&Signature=FIqDkk1o-VYwmcjrxQorNYk-J2wtddoe~O0v1s5MuS90K36L3Zi3HeXzCQMR~pHTpRvLvjZuYdMRymVotYpOSxnoxi3A4DWmtH1MNaxWfqxy9VaO0MaCd5QSs1FR20ztsl7pqRBPFb12OrfsFuwFbzuxnZhGjjEsWYE3bScPXbcg3CS7cR6xlv3if~y59xg1dri~E5mWu-vNgRYGRsIUa3G5qttVwxLSeRV9eU-hIc8iQUS26OP6Uk-IcSmX1fw3CYr3Bg6DmwC6hqfnoKtlpSiw91lSlQVwUANHYJG4Cj0Ba3BaX1QvX3Lk5HhJskyuRXslHeqOWIxmMzE3uuovag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carmel William Knox presented a proposed fee schedule March 19 under the city's animal husbandry ordinance that would set a $40 license for ducks and chickens (including drakes; roosters excluded). Knox said stakeholders including council members, animal advocates and residents were consulted and that $40 appeared \"fair and equitable.\"

When asked why honeybees were not licensed, Knox told the committee the city determined licensing honeybees would be impractical because there is no efficient way to tag or identify them; the department said there is no reasonable mechanism equivalent to leg bands for poultry that would allow enforcement at a reasonable fee. The committee voted to send the fee schedule to formal with the recommendation to approve by unanimous consent.

The motion to send line item 6.3 to formal passed without recorded objection. The animal husbandry ordinance and the fee schedule will proceed to a formal committee session for further consideration and possible final action.

","Council staff presented the licensing fee schedule created under the new animal husbandry ordinance: a $40 license for chickens and ducks (no roosters); honeybees were excluded because officials said tagging or identifying bees is impractical.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6110082,"City reports $858,187 in special-event fees for one quarter, $1.42 million in first half of FY25",216,258889,475489,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5&start=258&end=475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5/thumbnail_258889.jpg","/articles/6110082/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/City-reports-858187-in-special-event-fees-for-one-quarter-142-million-in-first-half-of-FY25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110082-aa5360f063a9ee234a27ffdad40563f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773647816&Signature=YnUQIx-8IcmmWyfB0s2x~~xOwY-nFfWNFvqQlu3xz8V8qsx-8uiysNn~ZTki-F5umHwBRohdmuQTznlyR5shfv-NFtjpJq9THot7F8VLQOGX4D5oq7c9kGphGs~Y9S3VOAKKpDN6j~1aLNiGN6Fdz9CfPxHZIa-bzYxrn656TQIuBy3N2E9o0kMnI9pCOmwYtSMr7IWVNhEgOp9gmhtW-gpF4n0PoPuW9UzW4qrKWVTjk-2AzJ49AQzPAazqDQx3uEPTPZN4S5moW71zhzcOixyf-~bPsusTLHO8FdM9HVoEoNg0qlJNWT1wd-w4afETG2e3TLxyJ1NW8w3cDrbyqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Regina Greer, deputy chief financial officer for the Office of Financial Services (ODFS), told the Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee March 19 that special-event fees for the quarter totaled $858,187 and that the first six months of fiscal year 2025 produced $1,422,540 in special-event revenue.

Greer said police special-event revenue for the quarter was $840,900 and fire special-event revenue was $17,287. She said the report covers revenues generated for services by the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Fire Department and that the revenue came from events such as the Grand Prix, auto show and the Free Press Marathon.

Committee member Gabriela Santiago Romero asked whether the fire department could capture additional revenue by being the first responder for event services instead of outside contractors. Greer said she is discussing \"first of right refusal\" arrangements with Commissioner Sims and department staff and that staff expect a material revenue increase if the fire department is prioritized for event-service work. She said staff did not have a specific revenue estimate yet.

Greer told the committee the presentation is posted on the city website under the Office of the CFO's special-event section. The committee voted to receive and file the report by unanimous consent.

","Deputy CFO Regina Greer presented special-event revenue for public safety services: police special-event fees totaled $840,900 and fire fees $17,287 for the quarter, with a six-month total of $1,422,540. The presentation is posted on the CFO website.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6110087,"City reports $65.2 million year-to-date surplus and presents FY26 budget proposal to committee",851,1080799,1932466,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5&start=1080&end=1932","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5/thumbnail_1080799.jpg","/articles/6110087/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/City-reports-652-million-year-to-date-surplus-and-presents-FY26-budget-proposal-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110087-0195a9fb70f76c18d3c8295c335b3690/orig.mp4?Expires=1773647816&Signature=FcF0XlMbaQEL2JNagn27WViojZNXJyYLtJSqRHrauaRm80hxjRenDhYogLBO7ft6ARwofKQtgZR~yHAwN8PZVYiUfCYTOoIObS675zBnHy6X-eKiqZScrRZiLsmwjvV5PP7Qz6Jw5Bu-wPBdadEvP6n-c9dYV19DlmlVO28cX-vN1WT~vtVHnMuk8HvQtCRsVylcCLmS5YAl76dNUa3SWPeVoNgY1Km-TF8HfpEsqeeSn~2QjszT3MCivF-KNsmhfEJ5bVKslcIG0n-a55IrvsPMLqNkX6f6hDxXP0DXsJySUySRbDBGxYVEkTtx9W~~~qgnerU218suF0l~lsJL0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Donnie Johnson, Detroit's deputy budget director, told the Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee on March 19 that the city is $34 million ahead of year-to-date revenue projections and about $31.2 million under budget on expenditures, producing a $65.2 million surplus through the first seven months of fiscal year 2025.

Johnson said the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and four-year plan, presented Feb. 28, totals $1.58 billion for general fund activities and $3.02 billion across all city funds for the year beginning July 1, 2025. Johnson said Detroit is projecting to remain balanced and that City Council will vote on a final budget by April 7 and transmit the approved plan to the Financial Review Commission by April 30.

Johnson and Nikhil Patel, deputy CFO and treasurer, reviewed revenue and cash-flow details. The presenters said January collections were about $5 million behind January of last year—largely a timing issue driven by withholding and estimated corporate payments—but that February data indicated collections would recover. Cash-flow changes from 2024 to 2025 were driven by several items Johnson and Patel highlighted, including the real property tax fund contributions, capital project spending reductions, and ARPA drawdown.

The report noted the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan approved a motion March 6 to amend combined pension plan documents to allow a $10 million payment to the General Retirement System and Police and Fire Retirement System components; committee members asked about timing for distributing that payment to retirees. Johnson said payroll and the pension system were working through the process; a committee member said attendees at a retiree task force expected distribution around May.

Committee members asked for clarification on employee counts and surpluses. Johnson said the city takes a conservative approach and does not finalize expenditure surpluses until year-end and audit adjustments are complete. Council member Mr. Corley noted the council had approved a budget amendment that reduced the projected $72 million revenue upside by roughly $46 million; Johnson said that amendment had been accounted for in subsequent materials.

The committee voted to receive and file the monthly financial report by unanimous consent: \"Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.\" Staff said they will provide additional detail in subsequent budget hearings.

","Deputy Budget Director Donnie Johnson and Treasurer Nikhil Patel reported a $65.2 million year-to-date surplus through January and summarized the mayor's proposed FY26 budget; the committee received and filed the monthly financial report.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6110090,"Committee sends correcting ordinance on elevating-device fees to formal; city to credit or reimburse overcharges",543,533639,1076952,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5&start=533&end=1076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2759069-41b3847659e35f32729e8e7866a4cea5/thumbnail_533639.jpg","/articles/6110090/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Committee-sends-correcting-ordinance-on-elevating-device-fees-to-formal-city-to-credit-or-reimburse-overcharges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110090-f024074a62d669e85bf307ea7da34a86/orig.mp4?Expires=1773647816&Signature=fzk-u4h5IFSC6Mi9N7F5j6axT3UWkJ7KhaLilVmbMJT8FM5aPRDwARMubwuyntyIZFp3uctx0LPxwKxYWCWJo8~5Q-oIhDtE~Efyc5wgF7v~h33b64EIqQNFkReiaWwkqt~On6UbFCAYFRZWYcdJvl9iNB64GPw53EU1Zh7H93gYNNopeHZkKTT5YSDtJkIy7KpIbbikc23X8aMVEjQwrGN7Q38VeOLdFaVRCSJphcE3PuegJk7L0wbiXWNlgED4ASnv-9Gb8iMeJuxQfsanXVFPGGbGnErh4umEn2Jj7op5aBNlstnP8mJxW9ru9Qt5a8JSty0DYx6t6NFrb-n6eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Detroit City Council's Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee voted March 19 to send a resolution to formal with a recommendation to approve amending the city's elevating-devices fee schedule to correct a per-story charge that officials said was set too high.

The correction matters because the Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department determined an added per-story charge of $59 was applied in error during a prior fee study; staff proposed reducing that per-story charge to $14.5 and adjusting base fees. The department said it will credit or reimburse customers who were overcharged.

Raymond Scott, deputy director for Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental (BC), and Randy Hargrave, the department's chief of construction, told the committee the comprehensive fee study adopted in 2024 inadvertently added an excessive per-story charge to several elevating-device fees. Scott said the city had not increased many building-related fees in roughly 30 years before the 2024 comprehensive study and that the implementation produced an unexpectedly high per-floor supplement.

Hargrave said the study had calculated a base fee and then added $59 per story after the first five stories; an internal review found that $59 figure was too high and that $14.5 per story is consistent with the department's resource needs and industry practice. Hargrave used dumbwaiter and elevator annual-license examples: the prior dumbwaiter charge was $135 and the implementation temporarily showed a higher amount; staff said the new implementation should set the base dumbwaiter fee at $200 without the $59-per-story add-on. Officials said the previous billing led the department to collect roughly two-thirds more than intended in some cases.

Committee members asked staff for an estimate of the total refunds that will be required. Scott and Hargrave said staff have not calculated a citywide refund total yet. Scott said refunds will be computed per renewal application and that many customers had not yet paid bills, which reduces immediate cashflow impact; for customers who already paid, staff said they would be offered credits or reimbursements. The committee asked the department to provide a more detailed estimate before the next hearing.

After discussion the committee took the measure to formal consideration with a recommendation to approve. The committee record indicates the motion passed by unanimous consent: \"Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.\" The resolution text before the committee amends the elevating-devices fee schedule to align per-story charges with the corrected $14.5 figure and to authorize retroactive credits or reimbursements to affected licensees.

City staff said the adjustment is intended to restore fees to the level originally intended in the 2024 fee study and to avoid overcharging building owners while preserving the department's cost-recovery obligations.

The committee will consider the formal resolution in a subsequent session; staff committed to returning with an estimate of the aggregate refunds and examples of how the correction affects large buildings.

","The Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee voted to send an amendment to the city's elevating-devices fee schedule to formal consideration after department staff acknowledged a per-story fee was miscalculated and said customers will be credited or reimbursed retroactively.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters allege absentee-vote irregularities and challenge UTGO use for new department

Committee advances $40 license for ducks and chickens; honeybees excluded from licensing

City reports $858,187 in special-event fees for one quarter, $1.42 million in first half of FY25

City reports $65.2 million year-to-date surplus and presents FY26 budget proposal to committee

Committee sends correcting ordinance on elevating-device fees to formal; city to credit or reimburse overcharges