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Sheffield’s $3B budget boosts spending for housing, buses, late-night rec centers

March 9, 2026

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has unveiled a $3 billion budget proposal for fiscal years 2026-27 that emphasizes neighborhood safety, youth programs, and affordable housing while implementing a modest property tax reduction. The spending plan, which is 1% smaller than the previous year due to slower revenue growth, creates a new Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services and raises the minimum wage for city workers to $21. 45 per hour.

Who is affected

  • Detroit residents, particularly those in low-income brackets and seniors
  • 900 city employees receiving wage increases (70% are Detroit residents)
  • Retired pension holders receiving a 13th supplemental check
  • K-12 students who will receive free bus rides
  • Chronically absent students eligible for ride-share pilot program
  • Residents experiencing homelessness and those seeking affordable housing
  • Public transit users and DDOT bus drivers
  • Youth participants in recreation programs and job training
  • Tenants facing eviction or unsafe housing conditions
  • Small business owners
  • Transit activist Michael Cunningham (hired as volunteer transit ambassador)
  • Domestic violence survivors

What action is being taken

  • Mayor Sheffield is presenting the budget proposal to City Council for review
  • The city is hosting budget priority forums with residents
  • The Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services is being created by splitting $40 million from the Housing and Revitalization Department
  • Recreation centers are extending hours to close at 11 p.m.
  • The city is raising wages for DDOT drivers to $25 per hour
  • The city is implementing a $21.45 per hour living wage for city employees
  • Michael Cunningham is being provided with bus fare vouchers and supplies to distribute as a transit ambassador
  • Senior liaisons in the Department of Neighborhoods are working on enforcing building codes in senior apartments
  • The Right to Counsel eviction defense program is continuing with funding
  • The Detroit Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Fund funding model is being changed to use all sales funds from city-owned commercial properties instead of 40%

Why it matters

  • This budget represents Detroit's continued financial stability with its 13th consecutive balanced budget since emerging from bankruptcy, demonstrating the city's fiscal recovery. The proposal addresses critical quality-of-life issues that residents have consistently raised, including public safety through violence prevention, affordable housing preservation, and improved public transportation service. The living wage increase for city workers and enhanced transit driver compensation acknowledge the economic challenges facing Detroit residents, where only 36% currently earn a living wage and residents earn half of what non-residents working in the city make. The budget's focus on youth programs, extended recreation hours, and community violence intervention reflects a comprehensive approach to reducing crime by addressing root causes rather than solely relying on law enforcement.

What's next

  • City Council will conduct a month-long review process of the budget proposal
  • City Council will vote to authorize Detroit's spending plan in early April
  • The administration plans to obtain 65 certificates of compliance for senior apartments by August
  • The administration is working on developing a retail business plan for each council district
  • The city is exploring a participatory budgeting process with plans to start a pilot program this summer
  • The administration could seek federal grants to sustain the $2 million truck traffic enforcement unit long-term

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com