The Mackinac Bridge Authority voted Nov. 7 to accept a finance committee report and approve a proposed budget amendment totaling $1,375,350 for safety equipment, consulting work and mandated inspections.

The authority’s finance committee presented a packet summarizing several items: purchase and deployment of a new safety boat and a super truck; a change order for Arcadis for approximately $300,000 to complete database conversions and systems work; and work required by Parsons related to a federal bridge‑safety inspection mandate, listed in the packet at $380,350. The committee packet showed a combined proposed amendment of $1,375,350.

The finance report also included an investment update and traffic summary. Committee materials said the authority’s portfolio value is $169,000,000 and that it is expected to generate about $6,100,000 in interest income for the year. A traffic report noted that overall bridge traffic this year matched 2024 levels, with some differences tied to wind‑related conditions.

The motion to accept the financial report and the budget amendment was moved and supported. During the recorded roll call, Chairman Darren Gleason and the listed board members signified their approval.

The board’s approval allows staff to proceed with the listed procurements and contracts. Staff discussed plans to integrate Arcadis work with the authority’s tools and to deploy the new safety boat to reduce dependence on borrowed assets. The Parsons work responds to a national directive to increase the scope of bridge inspections and reporting.

The finance committee also reported on the authority’s new credit‑card fee program, ratified in October. Since implementation, the authority recorded $3.3 million in card charges; the packet reported $56,000 in revenue to the authority and an additional $77,000 to be recovered from the card processor as outstanding issues are resolved.

Board members did not raise additional substantive objections during the motion. The authority’s approval now authorizes staff to implement the amended budget items and to proceed with the procurement and contract work described in the packet.