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Council flags emergency-manager salary line misplaced in police budget; staff to verify state funding and legal limits
Summary
Council members identified a personnel-line error that placed a $118,000 emergency-manager salary in the police personnel page; the emergency manager is budgeted separately at about $75,000. Council asked staff for payroll records, a legal opinion and confirmation of state emergency funding.
Council members and budget staff identified a discrepancy in personnel pages where an emergency-manager salary appeared in the police personnel sheet instead of the emergency management fund. City staff said the figure on the personnel sheet inflated the police salaries by about $118,000 but that the emergency management fund shows a separate salary line at roughly $75,000.
The chair directed staff to correct the personnel page and asked for payroll and payment records related to the emergency manager over the past year. "On page 11, line number 4, emergency manager, that was mistakenly put in this budget. There is a separate budget for the emergency manager department. So that, will reduce expenditures in this budget by a hundred 18 thousand for the salaries," a budget staff member told the council.
Why it matters
The placement of the salary affects the police department's reported personnel costs and the city's overall personnel totals. Council members said accurate accounting is necessary before finalizing the police budget and before the council acts on any personnel-related changes that could intersect with union rules or a referenced federal injunction.
State reimbursement and legal/HR follow-up
Staff noted the city receives state emergency-management funding under state programs (variously referenced in the hearing as Act 301/301-type funds) and agreed to verify the amounts and to add any eligible revenue to the emergency management fund's revenue lines. Council asked the police chief to confirm whether state Homeland Security or Wayne County allocations should be recorded, and staff said they would place any confirmed amounts in revenues.
Council members also raised legal constraints on changing or removing a budgeted position. One councilmember asked for a legal opinion before removing the "director of support services" line or otherwise altering positions subject to a federal injunction and union contract; staff agreed to seek that opinion and to confirm whether HR paperwork reflects any formal departure.
Emergency-team staffing and small-sum part-time budget
Budget staff noted a small part-time-salaries line that could be used for shelter staffing or other emergency needs; a councilmember recommended increasing that line to cover overnight shelter staffing when emergencies occur. Staff said the mayor has authority during an emergency to make staffing decisions as needed.
Public and staff follow-up
Council directed staff to provide documentation of payroll and payments from the emergency manager budget, to confirm state funds that offset the position and to request a legal opinion on any actions that might conflict with a federal injunction or union contract. Staff also said they would update the personnel and salary pages once HR paperwork and legal guidance were received.
Ending
Council members emphasized that the correction is administrative but could affect the police budget's apparent totals; they ordered verification of payroll, HR paperwork and state revenue eligibility before the budget is finalized.
