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Council adopts amended budget, cuts police overtime and approves a 3% COLA for council members
Summary
The council approved amendments to the 2026–27 budget including a $30,000 reduction to police overtime, funding for a community-responder program, a housing trust contribution, and a 3% cost-of-living increase for council (members may individually decline pay). Council also flagged ongoing shortfall concerns and directed staff to report on fee waiver and events-scheduling options.
The Ypsilanti City Council approved an amended budget package for FY 2026–27 after several motions to reduce a projected shortfall and reallocate funds.
City staff outlined recommended adjustments including a $30,000 decrease to police overtime and a corrected salary item for the police crossing guard; staff also recommended allocating $100,000 per year to the housing trust and funding for a community responder program. The council debated requests to preserve fee-waiver authority for community events and whether to allocate modest youth mini-grants and event-fee support.
After amendments and debate the council approved the budget ordinance and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for council compensation. Several members objected on principle; the council adopted a separate amendment allowing individual members to decline the extra pay and directed staff to establish a mechanism if members opt to refuse the raise.
Council members stressed that the budget still includes a remaining structural deficit to monitor and noted that full police staffing will change future-year budgets. The city manager reported the shortfall had been reduced by approximately $1.113 million through amendments and savings.
What's next: Staff will publish the ordinance, finalize amendments, implement the approved appropriations and continue work on fee schedules and parks/event rental rules; council asked for additional reports on staffing impacts and on how funds will support shelter and community-responder programs.
