Auditor General asks Detroit City Council for $1.4 million increase, four auditors to meet charter duties

Auditor General Laura Goodspeed told the Detroit City Council on the opening day of budget hearings that her office needs four additional full‑time positions and $1.4 million in new funding to meet charter‑mandated oversight responsibilities.

The request came during the Office of the Auditor General's fiscal year 2026 budget presentation to the expanded Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee. Goodspeed said the Mayor’s proposed budget is essentially “status quo” for the office and the administration’s proposal would only raise the office’s funding modestly (from about 0.36% to about 0.37% of the prior year general fund), while the office’s target equitable funding (TEF) percentage is 0.46%.

The reason for the requested increase, Goodspeed said, is to add four auditors to expand an “enhanced risk management” team that would allow the office to perform more timely investigations, complete performance audits on a wider set of programs and conduct accounting and forensic work that the office currently outsources. “We add value,” Goodspeed said in the presentation, stressing the office’s independence and professional credentials.

Goodspeed told council members the office is…