Sterling Heights council OKs two charter questions for November ballot, including $50,000 purchasing threshold

Sterling Heights City Council voted to send two charter questions to voters on Nov. 3, 2026, advancing measures that would change how some vacancies are filled and raise the dollar threshold for purchases that require a formal council agenda item.

The first measure would require a special election to fill any elected seat when two or more years remain on the unexpired four‑year term, rather than allowing the council to appoint a replacement for that longer period. City Attorney Mark Kashupski framed the change as restoring voter control when a majority of a term remains: “to the extent that there is longer than two or two years or more existing on the unexpired term that council would have that opportunity to appoint but there would be a special election to fill the vacancy going forward,” he said during the discussion.

The second question would increase the city charter threshold that triggers formal council pre‑approval for purchases and improvements. The charter currently sets that line at $5,000 (a 1968 figure). Administration recommended indexing the amount to inflation and proposed roughly $50,000; after floor debate and an amendment, council approved sending a $50,000 threshold (without an automatic CPI adjustment) to the ballot. Supporters said the change would reduce volume and paperwork for routine purchases and keep the council focused on larger items; opponents warned it would reduce oversight and could be seen by voters as removing checks on spending.

Council traded options — figures discussed included $35,000, $40,000 and a CPI‑indexed $50,000 — before an amendment to set the cap at $50,000 passed, and the main motion to place the procurement question on the ballot passed 5–2. On the vacancy question, council directed administration to prepare ballot language for the electorate.

Why it matters: A change to the vacancy rule would return some selections directly to voters rather than leaving them to a council appointment when a large portion of a term remains. Raising the purchasing threshold would reduce the number of routine items that appear as formal agenda items, but would shift the balance of oversight and require voters to weigh whether the efficiency gain is worth the tradeoff in transparency.

What’s next: City administration will draft formal ballot language and consult with the state attorney general’s office, as required for charter amendments. If approved by voters, the charter language will be amended and take effect according to the ballot language and applicable law.