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Council hears FY2026–27 budget highlights including public-safety hires and $1.5M for sidewalks
Summary
Vice President Hovach outlined the proposed FY2026–27 budget, including new detention staff to free patrol officers, six officer positions via state grants, three additional firefighters, $1.5 million for sidewalk repairs and continued CSO separation; public commenters, including Lansing Firefighters Local 421, urged continued staffing increases.
Vice President Hovach presented highlights of the proposed FY2026–27 budget and identified several public‑safety and neighborhood investments in the preliminary plan.
"We're adding new LPD detention staff, freeing up 5 officers to return to the streets," Hovach said. He also said the administration proposed adding "6 officer positions via the new state revenue sharing grants," $1,500,000 for sidewalk repair and continued funding for the combined-sewer overflow separation project. The budget summary also included roughly $325,000 for violence-prevention programs and additional staffing for community services and code compliance.
In public comment, Justin Conklin, vice president of Lansing Firefighters Local 421, praised the council and administration for following through on a prior resolution to add 3–6 firefighters per year but urged continued action and strong proposals for recruitment and retention during upcoming contract negotiations. "In 2015, the department responded to just over 19,000 calls for service. In 2025, that number climbed to more than 27,000 calls for service," Conklin said, noting a workload increase of roughly 43 percent and arguing that additional staffing is needed to maintain safe response levels.
Council members discussed charter obligations around budget priorities and recognized progress while stressing the ongoing need for competitive wages and sustained staffing for fire and other public-safety departments. The council did not adopt a final budget at the meeting; presentations and committee reviews are ongoing.
