Public Service outlines $10 million local-streets plan, new sidewalk technician and operations changes in FY26 budget

Public Service Director Andy Kilpatrick presented the department's FY26 budget proposal, telling the Lansing City Council the package centers on capital investments in local streets and sidewalks and operational changes intended to improve efficiency.

Kilpatrick said the capital plan includes $10 million for local streets and $1 million for sidewalks. "A mile of local streets costs us about $750,000 and Major Street is about a million and a half," he told the council, and he said the budget shifts some funding from the Major Street fund to Local Street projects using the city's asset-management plan to guide that transfer.

The proposal would add a technician position to handle permit-related tasks tied to sidewalks, complaints about trash in the public right-of-way and coordination with contractors. Kilpatrick said the position is intended to improve coordination and follow-up: currently work orders can sit in a queue without someone who tracks completion. He described the change as a restoration in part of prior staffing dedicated to right-of-way inspection.

Kilpatrick described several other FY26 items: annual…