Riverview holds public hearing on proposed 2026–27 budget; council approves landfill engineering and O&M contracts

Riverview’s City Council convened a public hearing on the proposed 2026–27 annual operating budget at its May meeting and voted to approve two contracts to continue engineering and operation and maintenance services for the city’s land preserve.

Finance Director Anne Darsniak summarized the city’s 189‑page budget as a snapshot of revenues and obligations, telling the council the general fund is about $14.4 million and that property taxes — which supply roughly 55 percent of general fund revenue — remain the largest single source. "Your property taxes are built based on taxable values, along with the millages," Darsniak said, later noting the city plans to assess about 20.6 mills for the coming year.

Darsniak cautioned the council not to rely on a recent large taxable valuation while it may be contested. She said a DTE energy plant added about $32 million in taxable value — roughly $5.5 million in apparent revenue — but warned that outcome could change if the plant pursues Michigan Tax Tribunal action or other adjustments. "We may have to pay all those back, and we're prepared to do that," she said, urging fiscal caution and contingency planning.

The presentation reviewed the budget’s major cost centers: police and fire together account for the largest shares of general‑fund spending, wages and benefits total about 71.5 percent of the general fund, and planned capital work includes about $18.4 million in bonded water and sewer projects and roughly $8–9 million in total capital improvements across departments. Darsniak also reported the pension plan at about 91 percent funding per the 2025 audit, and OPEB (other post‑employment benefits) funding at roughly 7.17 percent.

During the hearing, council members questioned how the city will address a structural deficit in the land preserve and the water/sewer enterprise. Councilman Pray asked staff to open negotiations with DTE to seek cost sharing on landfill operations, saying the city should ask DTE to "pick up at least 50%" of certain costs related to wells and monitoring.

Council then addressed two agenda items tied to landfill operations. The council opened discussion and approved item 9‑4, a memorandum of understanding to continue environmental engineering services with Tetra Tech for the land preserve. Staff explained recent permit changes (Part 115) and county program changes increased monitoring and required pumps in virtually every well, prompting greater operations and maintenance (O&M) needs. Jeff Kaye, who described the work and contract terms, said moving some previously nonroutine tasks into routine monthly services and adding on‑site staff would improve response time and compliance.

The council also voted to approve item 9‑5, a price proposal to continue O&M services with Tetra Tech. Staff discussed one‑year and multi‑year options; the one‑year option includes a 4 percent escalation if extended after the initial year, while a multi‑year lock could yield different rate treatments. Councilmembers asked about a 3 percent historical CPI escalation and whether multi‑year options should be pursued to stabilize costs. Both items passed by roll call vote with all present voting "yes."

The council approved routine consent agenda items including solicitations for library flooring, special events permits for AARL Field Day at Young Patriots Park, awarding park camera system installation to Actron Integrated Security Systems, and ratifying an emergency air‑compressor purchase at the land preserve.

A written public comment from resident Chuck Norton urged the city to evaluate selling the landfill and golf course to private operators, recommending a nationwide request for proposals to determine market interest and transfer liabilities; Norton said a sale could provide capital to address budget shortfalls. The council did not act on that proposal but directed staff to continue analyzing options related to the land preserve’s fiscal condition.

Finally, the council agreed to add to its June study session a request from a resident to research the feasibility of an ordinance to prohibit retail sales of dogs and cats in pet stores; the presiding officer directed the administration and city attorney to prepare preliminary research.

The meeting adjourned at about 8:03 p.m.