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Resident criticizes FY26-27 budget priorities as council reviews draft; public safety highlighted
Summary
At the Sept. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, a resident sharply criticized the draft FY26-27 budget priorities and urged the council to prioritize police, fire and core services; councilmembers discussed timeline and committee review and reminded the public of upcoming meetings.
Loretta Stanaway, a resident, told the City of Lansing Committee of the Whole on Sept. 8 that the draft fiscal year 2026–27 budget priorities do not sufficiently fund core public safety and public services and urged the council to re-order priorities. “Your job is to provide for the safety and the quality of life of your residents,” Stanaway said. She criticized several line items she said should be cut or deferred and added, “There’s no cake. We want the cake.”
The comment came during the committee’s public-comment period as members began a discussion of the budget-priorities document, which council staff said must be finalized by Oct. 1 and will return for adoption at the…
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