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Harper Woods council adopts 2026 budget, enacts tax levy and trims overall millage
Summary
The Harper Woods City Council adopted the 2026 budget and tax levy resolution, citing PA 33 as a funding mechanism for police and fire services and projecting modest millage reductions tied to anticipated development and new commercial investment.
The Harper Woods City Council on Nov. 3 adopted the city’s 2026 budget and the accompanying tax levy resolution, approving changes the administration said would stabilize revenues without cutting police or fire services.
City staff told the council the 2026 plan assumes adoption of the Public Act 33 (PA 33) framework to support police and fire services and includes hiring a deputy city manager and an ordinance enforcement officer. “There will be no reduction in police or fire services provided to residents or businesses in the city of Harper Woods,” a city presenter said during the budget presentation.
The council was presented with component rates and was told the total levy components amount to a transcribed figure of 33.4276 (component line items were read at the meeting). Staff explained the budget anticipates longer-term millage reductions—the presenter said reductions are likely once reliable revenues arrive from the Eastland development, a new housing project at the former Bokehart School site, and cannabis industry investment.
Council discussion included a request for clarification about the total millage reduction, which was reported in the hearing as about 2.6395. Staff also confirmed that animal control is funded through the general fund and line-item details appear in the budget workbooks provided to council.
Following the required public hearing and the tax levy vote, the council moved to adopt the appropriation resolution for the 2026 budget. Each member of the council answered in the affirmative during roll-call; the adoption and appropriation resolution was declared passed.
The budget document and the resolution materials were provided to council members in their workbooks; staff emphasized adoption on an activity basis to allow management flexibility to adjust line items and return with amendments as necessary.
What happens next: With the appropriation and levy in place, staff will proceed with implementing the 2026 spending plan, pursue the identified development- and grant-driven revenue sources, and present any required line-item amendments to the council in the coming year.
