Detroit committee opens public hearing on $2.4 billion proposed five‑year capital agenda

The Budget, Finance & Audit Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council on Jan. 9 opened a charter‑mandated public hearing on the city’s proposed five‑year capital agenda, a planning document that lays out potential projects and funding sources but does not appropriate money. Deputy Budget Director Donnie Johnson and City Planning Commission Director Marcel Todd presented the outline and told the committee the document is intended to inform grant seeking, budgeting and long‑range planning.

The proposed capital agenda is a five‑year planning document that Johnson said “is not a budget. It does not appropriate money,” and that it compiles candidate projects and potential funding sources for infrastructure, housing, parks, transportation, technology and city facilities. The plan presented to the committee lists $2,400,000,000 in capital planning across a range of categories and potential funders.

Why it matters: The capital agenda sets priorities that guide which projects the administration pursues for grant applications and budget requests. While the agenda does not allocate funds, projects listed and the priorities set in the document shape future appropriations, grant applications and procurement decisions.

Key details from the presentation

- Housing and economic development:…