Jackson City presents balanced 2025–26 budget, highlights public-safety, infrastructure, housing and parks investments

Jackson City on Tuesday presented a proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget that city leaders described as balanced and focused on infrastructure and public safety while holding the general fund reserve at the council'adopted 30% target.

Finance Director Heather Ennis said the proposed plan would reduce the city's millage rate by 0.7 mills and keep the fund balance within the approved 15% to 30% policy; the budget projects the current-year fund balance at about 43.6% of expenditures and targets 30% at the end of fiscal 2026.

The budget workshop, led by the city manager and department directors, highlighted several priorities: continued investment in police and fire personnel and equipment; major street, water and sewer work including sections of the MLK Corridor; continuation and expansion of housing programs including the 100 Homes initiative; and increased maintenance and programming for parks and recreation.

Ennis said the city's taxable value rose 6.2% year over year, outpacing Michigan's 3.1% inflation cap partly because of uncapping on property sales. She also noted scheduled debt retirements that will reduce millage pressure, including a 2016 capital improvement bond retiring in October 2025, DDA/TIF bonds retiring in June 2026 and city hall refunding debt in May 2027.

Public safety costs account for a large share of proposed spending. Police Chief Chris Simpson presented a roughly 4% increase in the police budget driven largely by personnel…