Romulus holds public hearing on proposed 2025-26 budget; $1 million fire pumper listed

Romulus City Council held a special public hearing May 12 to receive comment on the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 city budget. Maria Farris, the city’s director of finance, recapped two April study sessions and outlined key revenue and spending items that will be considered when the council votes on the budget at its next meeting.

Farris told the council that the city’s 2024-25 general fund expenses are below the amended budget and that general fund revenues are expected to come in higher than projected, driven in part by building permits, new development and a slight increase in tax receipts. “The general fund balance … remains consistent and stable,” Farris said, adding that the balance meets the industry standard of roughly 20%–25% of annual expenditures.

The finance director said planned expenditures in the proposed 2025-26 budget include vehicle and equipment replacements to address an aging municipal fleet and a major purchase for public safety. Mayor (unnamed in the transcript) noted the budget includes $1,000,000 to buy a front-line pumper engine, saying the city wants to take advantage of units currently being produced and will pursue state and federal funding to offset costs.

Council members and staff also reviewed a preliminary fee schedule that will be attached to the budget when it reaches the council for final approval. Staff explained one notable change affects the certificate-of-occupancy (C of O) / rental-registration administration fee: if a property owner completes the C of O inspection and registers the property as a rental at the same time, the combined fee would be $55. City staff said the transcript did not specify the exact previous dollar amount for the separate C of O or rental fees; staff described the change as intended to reduce duplicate fees when owners provide both pieces of information at once.

Jeff (staff member, name given in the meeting as Jeff) explained the fee change is meant to simplify processing for owners who buy a property with the immediate intent to rent: “If you do the C of O inspection and register as a rental at the same time, then you don't get hit with all those fees,” he said. He added that if an owner registers as a rental later, the full fee would still apply.

Farris described the budget development timeline: administrative work began in December, the formal kickoff occurred in early January, preliminary budget materials were distributed by April 1, and the council held study sessions April 14 and April 28. The council will consider the General Appropriations Act at its May 27 meeting; if approved, the fiscal year budget would take effect July 1, 2025. Farris said hard copies of the final budget will be provided to elected officials on request and that electronic copies will also be distributed.

The public comment portion of the hearing produced no speakers. The meeting record shows the council accepted the special meeting agenda at the start of the session and later adjourned after concluding the budget discussion.

The council’s next steps are the May 27 meeting to consider the General Appropriations Act and associated millages and a formal vote on the budget and fee schedule. No formal policy changes beyond approval of the budget and fee schedule were decided at the May 12 hearing.