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Grand Rapids commission adopts FY2026 budget amendment, removes enhanced‑support pilot; approves two salary contracts
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to the FY2026 budget ordinance on a 6‑1 roll‑call, removing one enhanced‑support pilot from the package, and unanimously approved two three‑year salary ordinances for 61st District Court bargaining units.
The Grand Rapids City Commission on Sept. 10 approved an amendment to budget ordinance 2025‑11 for fiscal year 2026 and adopted two salary ordinances for 61st District Court employees.
Commissioner Robbins, who introduced the amendment, told the commission that the ordinance bundle includes 16 items and that "if commission approved the budget ordinance amendment, this does leave the ending contingent balance untouched at $1.5 million from our general operating fund." After discussion, the commission voted to remove a proposed "enhanced support pilot" from the group of items before taking the final vote on the amendment.
On the roll call for the budget amendment, Commissioner Knight voted no; Commissioners Belchek, Kilgore, Sassi, Robbins and Purdue and Mayor Lrand voted yes, and the motion carried. The commission also approved immediate effect for the ordinance.
Separately, the commission suspended the rules to consider two salary ordinances for 61st District Court bargaining units. The first, for employees represented by the Association of Public Administrators Union, establishes a three‑year contract with a 5% increase in year one and 4% in years two and three; the ordinance passed unanimously on roll call and was given immediate effect. The second ordinance, for employees represented by the Grand Rapids Employees Independent Union, sets a three‑year contract with a 4% increase in year one, 3.5% in year two and 3% in year three; that ordinance also passed unanimously and took immediate effect.
The commission recorded the comptroller's warrant and the treasurer's report earlier in the meeting and approved the consent agenda before considering the budget amendment and salary ordinances. The removed enhanced‑support pilot will not be included in this ordinance package; commissioners raised fiscal prudence and the need for clear benefit evidence during debate. The commission referred several other items on the agenda to routine committee processes as appropriate.
