[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081155,"mediaKeyId","2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24","parentId",2943560,"title","Sterling Heights police outline cadet program, DOJ-funded CARE team, drone-first-responder trial and jail renovation in budget presentations","audioSeconds",668,"startMs",1694000,"endMs",2362000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24&start=1694&end=2362","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24/thumbnail_1694000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081155/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Sterling-Heights-police-outline-cadet-program-DOJ-funded-CARE-team-drone-first-responder-trial-and-jail-renovation-in-budget-presentations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081155-e18e2be15268219a1e2b973fc5b334d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775072696&Signature=kUygAhN6PDDZvP4Av2ViEkxNt6W3SucoJ0zB3pvbdaHh5IRN3H8rHyH-F-EHyrLVMzb8vFpRaVwa51MRrvDRMG6Ftx0MFL-FFfPum7qumJVw6kiU2zFVebXgAv3pBJFTzWIvPnFWWPl839CobRg18tZObXgg4UBvShdYu5Zb36iUhOPsWR8gNTguyjoD2wDS86zUBM5~b-5sa5pjtkFjJ-vYI6buW4C-URf10XXDiMPwh0D9Pwu2Ml1pFEDWOOUa2hcHRqiubWnQABLdOyoLoUxyEbS4I8OQNevSpA9-jVwoVh~A7acqKBJWSqsqihQ~vHlfH-S7ZrTlltNumkuoVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","SHTV1","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","Sterling Heights police leaders presented several new public-safety initiatives during the city’s budget workshop, including a plan to revive a cadet/cadet‑to‑academy pipeline, a federally funded co‑response CARE team to respond to behavioral‑health calls, a proposed drone-first‑responder (DFR) service, and a renovation of unused jail space for staff and training needs.

Why it matters: the proposals are intended to address recruitment and staffing challenges, add behavioral‑health response capacity, and speed situational awareness for first responders. Several ideas are funded in part by outside sources: the CARE team is supported by a $250,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant, and the proposed drone program would run under a multi-year service contract.

What police proposed
- Cadet and academy sponsorship: Interim Chief Ken Pappas described reviving a cadet/cadet-to‑academy sponsorship program to build a local recruitment pipeline. The department would hire paid cadets to perform non‑sworn duties (front desk, non‑criminal reports, special events support), give them additional points on hiring exams and potentially sponsor academy attendance. Pappas said an available MCOLES grant could recover academy costs and part of cadet wages while in training.
- CARE (co‑response) team and DOJ grant: Lieutenant Jason Bizdorf explained the department’s award of a $250,000 DOJ grant (the department is one of four nationwide selected) to create a CARE team that pairs two uniform officers with an embedded case manager who will co‑respond to mental‑health calls. \"We were one of only 4 law enforcement agencies that were selected nationwide and awarded this grant,\" Bizdorf said. The grant will pay wages, transportation support for clients, equipment and supplies and fund a data collection plan to evaluate the team’s impact during the grant year.
- Drone first responder (DFR) program: Captain Mario Bastinelli presented a vendor model in which specialized drones, stationed across the city, self‑dispatch to 9‑1‑1 calls and provide near‑instant overhead views, thermal imaging and other situational awareness. Bastinelli reported vendor claims such as average drone time‑to‑scene near 70 seconds and that some agencies clear one in four 9‑1‑1 calls using drone capability. The proposed DFR contract cited in the presentation was about $155,000 per year on a five‑year contract and would include multiple drones, maintenance and upgrades; the department intends to evaluate multiple vendors before committing.
- Jail renovation and space reuse: Captain Scott Lucas summarized a plan to repurpose roughly 7,000 square feet of unused jail facility that was closed when jail operations were outsourced. The estimated cost for demolition, renovation and furnishing is about $2,400,000; some of the project may be funded with narcotic forfeiture funds and the department will pursue federal funding as available.
- School Resource Officers and school panic alert: Police asked for an additional SRO, with Warren Consolidated Schools agreeing to pay 50% of the new SRO’s wages and 25% of a marked vehicle; Captain Kelli Hopper explained the SRO role and the district cost‑sharing arrangement. The department also proposed a mobile panic alert system for school staff; the presenter referenced two bills under consideration in the Michigan Legislature and called the effort part of broader school-safety work.

Council discussion and next steps
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about CARE team staffing (Bizdorf said the case manager is a case manager-level position embedded in patrol, not necessarily a licensed social worker), grant timing (the DOJ grant award is in hand but federal funding processes include additional administrative checks) and procurement for the drone service (staff said they will consider multiple vendors and put the contract through competitive review). Several councilmembers expressed support for the mental‑health co‑response approach and for adding a second SRO in Sterling Heights' portion of Warren Consolidated Schools.

Attributions (selected)
- Interim Chief Ken Pappas: overview of department strategic initiatives and staffing pipeline.
- Lieutenant Jason Bizdorf: CARE team details and DOJ grant award.
- Captain Mario Bastinelli: drone-first-responder program and vendor quote.
- Captain Scott Lucas: jail renovation scope and estimated cost.
- Captain Kelli Hopper: school resource officer role and cost‑sharing details.

What’s not decided: no formal council vote was recorded on police program funding at the workshop; many items were proposed within the FY26 budget and require council amendment or final adoption in the remaining budget steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4-8-25 Special City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Sterling Heights police outlined plans for a cadet pipeline, a DOJ‑funded co‑response CARE team, a drone-first‑responder subscription and a jail‑space renovation as part of FY26 budget presentations.","taxTitle","Sterling Heights, Macomb County, Michigan","taxId",5477,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081151,"Velocity incubator touts $600K in grants and $19.2M attracted in 2024 as Lakeside Town Center development advances",2131,3560000,5691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24&start=3560&end=5691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24/thumbnail_3560000.jpg","/articles/6081151/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Velocity-incubator-touts-600K-in-grants-and-192M-attracted-in-2024-as-Lakeside-Town-Center-development-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081151-7871dccce650906314a060917523dbc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775072696&Signature=NwbneTl3AkZWGooyxqn6OgEYMkNdW-RX5bazri92aa5vDT71-Sd9oq3mIAkOvKvaJlSiRYuwkboa2UyFofyXeTdMBYap4iHPSmjqgH84MLRFqGUCukq~E8h3KzLeyzSeIabnZUNRBHQPCwVEXgihR0tWHGUVXN9pkaigc7iBW8GZ8ak2V8j5R8MG2dBb6Pybix9lKK34HzGIFaPuo0g4I~jYdbBiYBQ45RWiOww2CHbS1aZFKRRFjuGU5-BM1YQ5uTv1~w95Hd8wh~juhqPX5ra3lc4uWkkxeFU8xHhzOZN8Mv0bRJRLv8yQsChoKtg3PShEd1Jrd0Z1~yTc9tfl5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sterling Heights’ economic development team and the city’s Velocity incubator presented progress and initiatives aimed at business retention, attraction and entrepreneurship as part of the FY26 budget workshop. The presentation emphasized the city’s engineering and manufacturing workforce strengths and described programs to support startup and second‑stage companies.

Why it matters: the city faces strong demand for industrial and manufacturing space and seeks to keep growing companies local through targeted programs and incentives. Velocity and the economic development office said their work supports local jobs, supplier networks and long‑term redevelopment goals such as the Lakeside Town Center.

Key points from the presentation
- Workforce and defense corridor: Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner described Sterling Heights as having a high concentration of engineering talent (a location quotient the presentation listed as about 5.5) and noted the city’s position in the regional defense and manufacturing corridor. Bonner characterized Lakeside Town Center as potentially the city’s single largest development project.
- Velocity results and programming: Paula McPherson, the entrepreneurship and innovation advisor, said Velocity awarded more than $600,000 in direct grants in 2024; attracted about $19.2 million in investment to local businesses; started 31 new companies; and served roughly 256 clients across accelerator and incubator programs. Velocity is operating multiple accelerator tracks (small business, high-tech and med‑tech) and runs recurring events and mentoring programs.
- Success stories: presenters cited client examples including Backyard Bats (a Canadian company now operating in the U.S. through Velocity and pursuing Major League Baseball approval), Imagio Glass Design (received grants and has local hires), and Ares Technologies (received a $5,000 gap assessment and won an $1.8M contract after support toward CMMC certification).
- Staffing and funding: the proposed FY26 budget includes an economic development specialist position; Varney and Bonner said about 75% of the position’s cost would be funded from LDFA and CIA tax-capture funds and the remainder from the general fund. Bonner and councilmembers discussed the LDFA tax capture (about $2,000,000 total capture cited in council discussion) and the CIA capture (roughly $360,000 cited during council Q&A) as sources that support Velocity programming.

Council discussion and follow-ups
Councilmembers pressed for clarity on long‑term outcomes, including whether Velocity‑supported companies “graduate” into physical Sterling Heights spaces. Staff said industrial vacancy is low (industrial vacancy cited in the presentation at roughly 1.5–2%) and that a combination of project management, property assemblage and targeted incentives are part of the strategy to keep growing companies local. Bonner and McPherson noted grant awards and external partnerships (state grants, MEDC, county partners) are a significant component of Velocity’s budget.

Attributions (selected)
- Luke Bonner: economic development overview, workforce and Lakeside context.
- Paula McPherson: Velocity results, client examples and accelerator programming.

What’s next: city staff said they will continue to pursue grant funding, work with partners to support Lakeside Town Center and North Van Dyke revitalization and return with implementation and performance metrics for the new economic development specialist position.","Sterling Heights economic development and the Velocity incubator presented results and programs aimed at keeping technology and manufacturing growth local, including $600,000 in direct grants administered by Velocity in 2024 and a proposed economic development specialist funded largely by LDFA/CIA tax capture.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081159,"Sterling Heights council introduces $318 million proposed FY2026 budget; ordinance introduced 7-0",1342,388000,1730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24&start=388&end=1730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2943560-3bb6c75ddcd3b2b001fb068235e16a24/thumbnail_388000.jpg","/articles/6081159/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Sterling-Heights-council-introduces-318-million-proposed-FY2026-budget-ordinance-introduced-7-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081159-2b6e6074fcba61bb600caddac49ece70/orig.mp4?Expires=1775072696&Signature=W-vGrgrjB7PTYPejIMZlZUzrL0uSNTBI7PDVa3cxBJinfUOzZzwwVAQU5XTvsGSbTiRu-62ZJFDewnCCcOlW0Z8Lr5pgfNCknT6DK~cJSuy1DDDoZil3dV8zqUuUrKyoo-kE3Cu4FHX8QcD52eb9PikRj3nQLhQtHYT73eOXaOCPj4~wV6E7HkWHRu8GHvWMiEUVzTguZONkEPLSIRA~ersPcDnLN3TxUEQpNkjIj3vwPwBV04X633bm7zSqERGwZNgKwg-D7M-qsIjthG2prhuiJXtoNqDPiYASf34AbwIb~WHCdxD9U5UYj0vtnu7VtkY1UWYAafbY3cacB9jhdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sterling Heights city officials presented a $318 million proposed fiscal 2026 budget and the City Council formally introduced the fiscal year 2025–26 appropriations ordinance at a special budget workshop; the motion to introduce the ordinance carried 7-0.

The proposed total fund budget is $318,000,000; the general fund is $132,500,000 (about 42% of the total). Budget and Finance Director Jennifer Varney told the council the proposed increase in total funds (about $27,000,000 over the current year) is driven primarily by a new Pathways and Preservation Fund created to track expenditures from a voter-approved millage and related bond proceeds. \"The total city budget this year is $318,000,000,\" Varney said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the package affects tax collections, capital projects and staffing. The proposed 2025 tax-year city millage is 17.53 mills (an increase of 0.95 mills), the presentation said; that increase reflects the voter-approved Pathways to Play and Preservation millage. Varney showed an example that the average Sterling Heights homeowner would pay roughly $1,809 a year in city taxes under the proposal.

Key budget details
- Total proposed funds: $318,000,000; general fund: $132,500,000. Public safety is the largest general-fund item (about 56% of the general fund).
- Primary drivers of the year-over-year fund increase: creation of the Pathways and Preservation Fund ($45,000,000 of the increase; approximately $40,000,000 financed with planned bond proceeds) and funding for the first phase of Fire Station No. 5 renovations from a facilities improvement fund.
- Revenue specifics called out by Varney: general fund revenues are estimated at $131.7 million; property taxes make up about 61% of that total. Taxable values rose in the current year, and Varney said typical residential taxable values rose roughly $5,000 from last year to an average taxable value near $103,000.
- Personnel and liabilities: the proposed budget adds a net nine full‑time positions (eight funded in whole or part by grants or dedicated revenues). The city budgeted about $27 million for pension and retiree medical liabilities across its plans and showed funding increases in recent actuarial results.
- One‑time and timing items: the proposed budget uses roughly $735,000 of fund balance for timing-related items, including advance funding for four firefighter EMTs that the city expects to reimburse through the Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) program when state reimbursements arrive.

Capital, special funds and debt
Varney said the city expects to issue approximately $40,000,000 in bonds to finance projects tied to the new millage and that the city remains well inside its legal debt capacity. Road programs are funded largely by state Act 51 gas-and-weight tax revenues and the city budget anticipates about $4.5 million of city-share major-road funding toward a roughly $12 million season of road work.

Council action
Councilmember (Missus) Swierowski moved to introduce the appropriations ordinance for fiscal year 2025–26; the motion was seconded (support stated on the record) and the council voted to introduce the ordinance, with the motion carrying 7–0. The administration noted that any council budget amendments must be formalized at the second hearing (scheduled in the process) and that final adoption is planned for the May 6 meeting.

Context and next steps
City officials emphasized the budget remains focused on financial stability, low debt levels and continued service investments while keeping Sterling Heights among the lower-taxed communities in Macomb County. Varney and city management reminded residents and council members that the second budget hearing will receive potential amendments and that required votes to adopt or change budget items must occur in the formal hearing sequence.","City officials presented a $318 million proposed fiscal 2026 budget that relies on a voter-approved \"Pathways and Preservation\" millage and a planned $40 million bond issue; the council introduced the FY2025-26 appropriations ordinance at a special budget workshop and the motion carried 7-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sterling Heights police outline cadet program, DOJ-funded CARE team, drone-first-responder trial and jail renovation in budget presentations

Velocity incubator touts $600K in grants and $19.2M attracted in 2024 as Lakeside Town Center development advances

Sterling Heights council introduces $318 million proposed FY2026 budget; ordinance introduced 7-0