DPW seeks $212 million in FY2027; council presses on inspections, sidewalks and traffic calming

Detroit’s Department of Public Works laid out its fiscal year 2027 funding plan on March 26, telling the city’s expanded Budget, Finance and Audit standing committee that the department is seeking roughly $212,000,000 and will target neighborhood maintenance, major resurfacing projects and a longstanding sidewalk backlog.

“Our budget for fiscal year 2027 is $212,000,000,” DPW Director Ron Brundish said in his presentation, noting the plan includes funding to “aggressively” address a backlog of about 6,300 residential sidewalk requests that existed as of Jan. 1, 2026. Brundish said the department split its request across four funds — general, street, metro and solid waste — and plans capital work including resurfacing 27 miles of residential streets and 17 miles of major thoroughfares, installing 300 speed humps and adding ADA-compliant ramps.

Why it matters: The package affects street safety, stormwater flow, curbside services and how much general-fund subsidy the city needs to support solid-waste operations. Council members used the hearing to press DPW on quality control for paving and sidewalk work, contractor accountability for solid-waste service, and to push for more traffic-calming investments in specific neighborhoods.

Council scrutiny and follow-ups

Members asked detailed operational questions after the presentation. Member Leticia Johnson raised recurring problems where newly installed ADA corners puddle, asking “how do you…