Cascade Charter Township presents draft 2026 budget with $15 million CIP placeholder; board seeks clearer public disclosure

Cascade Charter Township staff on Tuesday presented a draft 2026 budget that projects about $7.6 million in total revenues and roughly $7.45 million in expenditures and includes a $15 million placeholder in the capital improvement plan connected to a Downtown Development Authority project.

The budget presentation focused on revenue drivers, personnel and benefits costs, and proposed changes to internal cost allocation. Staff described taxable-value growth and new construction as major revenue contributors and noted the township could add a 1% tax-administration fee on tax bills; staff estimated that fee could generate about $808,000 if levied. The township is awaiting final taxable-value figures from the assessor in April, staff said, and cautioned that state receipts—referred to in the presentation as the Local Community Stabilization receipts—may not align with local valuations.

Why this matters: The $15 million entry in the capital improvement plan (CIP) drew the most…