Wayne council adopts 2026-27 budget, approves water-project change order and several contracts

Wayne City Council voted May 19 to adopt the city manager's fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and millage rates and approved several contract and staffing actions.

The council approved the budget after a public hearing; Councilman Quarles moved to adopt and Councilman Dowd supported the motion. Council then conducted a roll-call vote to finalize the hearing and proceeded to approve the budget and associated millage rates. City Manager Diane thanked staff and the finance director for hours spent preparing the budget, and Council members asked that printed copies be made available for residents without internet access.

Why it matters: adoption of the council-approved budget sets the city's spending priorities and tax rate for the coming year and enables the city to deploy grant-funded projects and negotiated labor contracts included in the plan.

Key votes and actions at the meeting:

- Budget and millage rates: Motion to approve moved by Councilman Quarles and supported by Councilman Dowd; council adopted the budget and millage rates following the public hearing and staff presentations.

- Lead service replacement change order: Council approved Change Order No. 4 for the 2024 lead water service replacement project to increase the All Seasons contract by $264,121 so the city can utilize the full EPA grant; the action brings the contract total to $5,858,771. City staff said the project has replaced slightly more than 1,200 service lines and that the city must spend remaining Eagle grant funds (about $90,000) before switching to EPA dollars.

- General counsel bid process: Council authorized the city manager to initiate a bid process for general counsel services, with and without prosecutorial duties. That motion (mover: Councilman Darwish; support: Councilman Dowd) passed on a roll-call tally that recorded five "Yes" votes and two "No" votes (Councilman Quarles and the Mayor voted no).

- Labor agreements: Council approved tentative agreements with the Technical, Professional and Office Workers Association of Michigan (Teamsters) and with the Command Officers Association of Michigan (COAM) covering July 1, 2026—June 30, 2029; motions were approved by voice vote.

City manager's and staff notes: the city manager said the budget materials will be put online after approval and that printed copies can be made available on request at City Hall and the clerk's office. Finance Director Katie Sample was specifically thanked for preparing the budget materials.

What the city directed staff to do next: with the budget adopted, the city manager will implement budgeted expenditures, initiate the general-counsel bid process, and proceed with the lead-service replacement project under the revised contract budget. Council also approved short-term office closures (building and engineering) to allow staff training on the new BS&A cloud system ahead of its May 26 live date.

Votes at a glance: - Budget and millage rates: approved (motion: Quarles; support: Dowd). - Ordinance 2026-03 (first reading, cross-connection rules): approved for first reading (motion: Quarles; support: Brock). - Change Order No. 4 (lead service replacement): approved (motion: Waas; support: Lawrence); contract increased by $264,121 to $5,858,771. - General counsel bid process: approved (vote 5-2 on roll call). - Teamsters tentative agreement: approved. - COAM tentative agreement: approved.

The meeting record shows council took these votes during the May 19 session and that several items will require follow-up implementation by city staff.

Ending: With the budget adopted and contract actions approved, staff will proceed with grant spending and vendor work; council scheduled no further votes on these items during the meeting and adjourned at the end of the session.