Richmond council adopts $12.8 million budget, keeps millage at 15.5039 mills

The Richmond City Council on Monday adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, a $12,800,000 spending plan that preserves the city millage at 15.5039 mills and carries a $5,600,000 general fund.

The city manager told the council the proposed budget reflects changes made during three budget workshops in April and May and includes a six-year capital outlay and capital improvement plan. “The total city budget is 12,800,000.0, including a 5,600,000.0 general fund budget,” the city manager said during the public hearing.

Council members and administration emphasized that department directors and councilors reviewed the budget line by line. In presenting the resolution that adopts the budget, the city manager said the resolution also “directs the preparation of the tax roll and collection of taxes” and noted the millage matches last year’s rate.

The budget includes a set-aside of 0.17 mills for street improvements and a 1% administration fee on tax collections. The city also sets a flat refuse, yard waste and curbside recycling fee of $232.76 per collection unit annually. The manager said the city does not levy any mills for debt.

No public speakers offered substantive changes during the public hearing, and the council voted to adopt Resolution No. 2025-4, which formally adopts the budget and millage rate.

Councilors praised the thoroughness of the review process and noted the city’s property tax position in Macomb County. “Among villages and cities, when it comes to homestead property taxes, we are the second lowest in Macomb County,” a council member said, thanking staff for the work on the budget.

The adopted resolution also endorses the city’s 2025–2031 capital improvement plan. The council did not specify new debt levies in adopting the plan.