Commission approves budget amendment that shifts 13 comptroller staff amid public outcry

The Grand Rapids City Commission on Dec. 31 approved Budget Ordinance 2024-23 Amendment No. 5, a 13-item package that moves $1,000,000 into the city—s budget stabilization fund, authorizes several grants and capital investments, and reassigns 13 permanent personnel positions from the elected city comptroller—s office to city management.

The fiscal package, presented by the chair of the commission—s fiscal committee, includes roughly $150,000 for cybersecurity work; a $1,000,000 state grant for election-related improvements at the Scrivener building; two homeland-security grants for police and fire training; $486,000 for Division Avenue reconstruction; $50,000 for Parkway Drive and Waterford Court improvements; ARPA funds for Riverside Park bridge maintenance; a $434,000 demo fire truck purchase; $7,600,000 in ARPA funds for a new public works facility at Scribner; a $1,700,000 reappropriation for participatory budgeting projects; and a $750,000 reappropriation for the Third Ward Equity Fund. The ordinance also contains a personnel reorganization provision transferring 13 positions effective Jan. 6, 2025.

The most contested element, the personnel reallocation, drew extended public comment and commissioner questions. Nathan Biller, a Kentwood resident, said the reorganization would "make it practically impossible" for the comptroller to perform charter-mandated duties if staffing is cut so deeply, and criticized the process by which a legal opinion was not made public. Laura Sessa, of the Second Ward, told the commission she had "not seen any legal argument" citing a charter section that authorizes removing comptroller functions and urged commissioners to follow charter change procedures or put the question to voters.

City Attorney Anita Hitchcock told the commission the Department of Law conducted an extensive review of the charter and state law, job descriptions and legal opinions going back decades. Hitchcock said the office—s view is that the change is about clarifying supervision and reporting lines to avoid conflicts of interest and confusion among staff, not to strip the comptroller of access to records or audit authority. "The city comptroller will still have access to all of our books and all of our records," Hitchcock said, adding the affected employees remain city staff supervised operationally by the city manager.

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, who presided over the meeting and gave closing remarks, described the change as part of broader reorganization tied to new fiscal systems and implementation of enterprise investments. After debate and staff answers, the commission held a roll-call vote and approved the amendment unanimously, then voted to give the ordinance immediate effect.

Supporters said the reorganization clarifies reporting lines and reduces a perceived conflict in which the elected comptroller supervised staff who then were audited by the same office. Opponents and several former and current municipal finance professionals — including former city treasurer Al Mooney — urged postponement, public release of the underpinning legal analysis, and a fuller public process to ensure the comptroller can meet charter duties.

Next steps: The reassignment takes effect Jan. 6, 2025, per the ordinance. The commission chair said services performed by the moved staff will continue and the comptroller retains audit access; the city attorney and administrative staff will provide follow-up materials as needed to clarify implementation timelines.

Ending: The commission approved Amendment No. 5 and adjourned the meeting; opponents signaled they may pursue additional public records requests or legal challenges if they believe open-meeting or statutory requirements were not met.