Wayne County committee approves $3.6 million transfer of penal fines to county journal fund

The Wayne County Committee on Ways and Means voted to authorize a $3,600,000 transfer to the county journal fund for fiscal year 2024–25, a transfer county staff described as related to previously discussed penal-fine settlements.

Melissa Evans, who said she was filling in for Johnavier Adams, presented the matter and described it as a proposed budget amendment tied to penal fines “to the tune of $3,600,000.” Evans told the committee the settlements had been discussed in closed session and that staff brought the item forward for the committee’s approval.

Commissioner Scott moved the resolution and Commissioner Marecki supported it. In a roll-call vote Commissioners Scott, Baker McCormick, Marecki and Anderson and Chair Kinloch recorded “yes.” The clerk announced the motion carries.

Earlier on the agenda the clerk read two items requesting commission approval of settlements in the matters of library penal fines for Southgate Veterans Memorial Library and for the Detroit Public Library (listed as Detroit Public Library Commission, DBA Detroit Public Library). County staff said those matters had been discussed “at length” in closed sessions prior to the public meeting.

The item on the public agenda was titled as a resolution authorizing the transfer of $3,600,000 to the county journal fund for fiscal year 2024–25. The transcript records the motion, the roll call and the unanimous result among commissioners present.

Clarifying details from the meeting: staff identified the package as a budget amendment tied to penal fines; the transfer amount was $3,600,000; staff indicated prior closed-session discussions on the settlements (items listed separately on the agenda). The transcript identifies the two library-related settlement items on the agenda but does not provide settlement amounts or other settlement terms in the public record.