3 big takeaways from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s budget plan

Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration proposed a spending plan for the following fiscal yr on Friday, a mirrored image of its priorities and ethos.

• Plus, as Metropolis Council responds to the proposal over the following month, we’ll see how the priorities of the 2 pillars of metropolis authorities examine.

Three important takeaways:

Making an attempt to unravel the driving force scarcity

The town is looking for a $15 million price range improve for the Detroit Division of Transportation, partly to recruit and retain bus drivers.

• “We have to take care of the pay of our bus operators to maintain them aggressive,” Duggan instructed Metropolis Council Friday.

Particulars: The rise additionally replaces federal funding that lapsed and farebox income losses.

• A selected breakdown hasn’t been determined but, a spokesperson tells Axios.

State of play: Low pay is accountable for bus driver shortages that end in delays or cancellations that inconvenience riders, the Free Press reviews.

• DDOT drivers make round $16/hour to begin and $20.79/hour on common, per the Detroit Information. The division’s 404 drivers are 100 wanting its budgeted positions.
• Close by Ann Arbor has a beginning wage of $28.65.

What they’re saying: The DDOT price range improve is an encouraging begin towards a pay elevate, Megan Owens, government director of Transportation Riders United, tells Axios.

• “That is positively what we’d like and what we have been asking for,” Owens says.
• “Our transit is as embarrassing because the 2008 Lions season,” resident Steven Hawring stated throughout public remark. He stated he believes the town is “attempting” however “we have to do extra” as younger individuals select to maneuver to Chicago or New York as a substitute.

Dwelling demolition

Duggan’s price range additionally requires $13 million to tear down vacant properties. Detroit has been paying for hundreds of teardowns utilizing $250 million in voter-approved bond funding, with round 7,000 properties owned by the Detroit Land Financial institution Authority left to demolish or promote utilizing these {dollars}.

• Duggan desires to additionally take care of the town’s roughly 4,000-5,000 privately owned dilapidated properties, however stated Friday it is “difficult legally” to try this utilizing bond funds — thus suggesting extra metropolis {dollars}.

Reducing property taxes

The mayor’s crew additionally proposed reducing property taxes the following two years to save lots of householders someplace round $50-$100 this yr and $100-$200 subsequent yr.

• “We’re going to have a tax minimize for the primary time in my reminiscence,” he stated.

Between the strains: Duggan is responding to an initiative from council member Angela Whitfield Calloway, although his proposal is barely completely different and smaller than hers — a smaller minimize lasting two years as a substitute of 5.

In the meantime, some public commenters blasted the town for not giving excessive precedence to weak Detroiters’ quick wants, like Proper to Counsel, an effort serving to forestall evictions amid what consultants name an eviction disaster.

What’s subsequent: Metropolis Council members will weigh the mayor’s proposal, meet with metropolis departments, make modifications after which vote on the ultimate price range in April for the fiscal yr beginning in July.