[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6573987,"mediaKeyId","3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49","parentId",3139174,"title","City's draft FY2026 budget includes 20% proposed water, 14% sewer rate increases; county approvals still required","audioSeconds",211,"startMs",1701000,"endMs",1912000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49&start=1701&end=1912","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49/thumbnail_1701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573987/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Citys-draft-FY2026-budget-includes-20-proposed-water-14-sewer-rate-increases-county-approvals-still-required","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573987-64c465449685c838609410ac44b5637f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197670&Signature=MarxqJ~3mt-nEUkf2qFa4fngypeOxmqZHP3vjKSFSnmZ5Z9TByjO6r~uX3KvVTO7LYbuTH9oX53liNL8CHWRxXGJ-NGtlGtjSRqYLEQDSFPWezuVixjRAxsP3yLISGRXoCe-ttBkdF7mwr65ZzTrXBeBXFRX4BMAardwTOr5Zyj9naDVypVeb9kQlu7Vb5uhtK-3n6OFFjtIvs7SjPjbylAoI23KUciuOh0Oxv22yv-exarKtYo1XhFoEi8wIw8gMH-gAt8Lwp9f2~1i4FkHLryZcc4PYDDDsHrorIN2LfrGYjqKzgqewv-YwsWi21-LmFe1xhrsZe0ZRw0eoPP1JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Birmingham","date","2025-04-28T13:59:28.547Z","article","Finance Director Mary told the commission the FY2026 recommendation includes significant proposed increases to utility user charges: \"In the recommended budget, we will have proposed 20% increase in water rates and a 14% increase in sewer rates,\" she said during her presentation.

Mary said most of the water increase is intended to fund capital investment in the system rather than shift costs to property taxes. She explained that the city is following a commission-approved two-year plan to move water and sewer funding toward rate-based, self-supporting models rather than subsidizing those utilities with property taxes. \"We made a policy decision to stop having property taxes support the cost of water,\" she told commissioners, citing past litigation and policy changes.

City staff explained what the increases mean for a typical user: Mary estimated the recommended water changes would add about $134 a year (about $11 per month) to an average residential bill, and the sewer increase would add about $146 a year (about $12 per month). The finance director said $1.03 of an example $1.49 water rate increase covered capital improvements, with other portions covering operating and maintenance costs.

The recommended budget includes a one-time general-fund transfer to shore up sewer reserves: a $546,000 transfer to the sewer fund was proposed to bolster its reserves. Mary noted that the one-time transfer amount may require adjustment because the city had just been informed of higher sewer charges from one of the county authorities; she told commissioners staff will adjust that transfer to maintain a balanced budget.

Staff repeatedly cautioned the commission that final sewer rates will be set outside the city by the Oakland County Water Resource Commissioners and that Great Lakes Water Authority and SACWA (South Oakland County Water Authority) increases upstream influence local charges. Mary said the county-level approvals and the county drain commission's final rate setting will occur in May and that the city will return with finalized rates after those bodies act.

Commissioners asked technical questions: one requested audit-level detail on the upstream water supplier cost increases and on why year-to-year water-consumption patterns fluctuate materially despite stable population. The finance director and city staff suggested several factors (weather, conservation, device adoption, telework patterns) and agreed to supply additional analysis to the commission.

Ending

Staff said the final water and sewer rates will be finalized after county and regional bodies set their charges; the commission will revisit the adopted rate schedule at the May meeting before final adoption of the city's FY2026 budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04.26.2025 City Commission Budget Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Finance Director Mary proposed a 20% water-rate increase and a 14% sewer-rate increase as part of the FY2026 recommended budget, with a proposed one-time $546,000 general-fund transfer to support sewer reserves.","taxTitle","Birmingham City, Oakland County, Michigan","taxId",48746,"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},6573991,"Birmingham releases recommended FY2026 budget with lower millage, $30.1 million in capital projects",5279,501000,5780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49&start=501&end=5780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49/thumbnail_501000.jpg","/articles/6573991/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Birmingham-releases-recommended-FY2026-budget-with-lower-millage-301-million-in-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573991-6f0a605e4a78101a5aa516631bc71c19/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197670&Signature=jg2Tf2uyWObeu3uCeXeh9jqYqfx4nSllWBcG9-tyWwuI2dfo30s8Wvi7L1JNyLQhM4uBfbHZAzyT152Vd1QtkqHAUgOKWINji0dNtSXMzIYIbzgmdCn4vanGR-01TW-Z7vGxyk8BRdvG-syQNKNXSGuMBmzIeOCrRnAORKKb5tGgoUl1KPxaxlCNwWD5A9eiVwe~7JS35feuAbURPIkzFu0gUBPF0hiP4X~5hRZp-~j9oHOm2YVzG-JSZUucSaYERDxSPrI6gfwx0ZNBjDsTe8I-8rHSwt6fLyeSrrJnkiRaM5~SBq62fXhO8yAEgPy87yHFIhh5gZjy~I3u9T1Ygw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager presented a recommended FY2026 operating budget the commission heard at a public hearing, saying the plan is balanced while lowering the city's operating millage to 13.1183 — 0.1478 mills below last year's levy.

Finance Director Mary outlined the details, saying the city is proposing a $125 million overall budget and a capital program of $30,100,000 for FY2026. \"Out of the $30,100,000, $18.4 million, or 61 percent, is allocated to streets, water and sewer improvements,\" Mary said.

The recommended budget keeps the city's unassigned/general fund balance high (Finance Director Mary said the current balance is about 38 percent) and maintains a policy gap of 0.3 mills below the Headlee limit to preserve future flexibility. Mary told commissioners the budget book and line-item detail are available on the city's OpenGov portal and reminded the commission this hearing solicits comment before a final vote expected in late May or early June.

The proposal includes three personnel changes the city manager highlighted: a utility specialist for water/sewer/street work, a full-time position supporting the ice arena and golf course, and converting a part-time transcriptionist position to full time to handle meeting minutes and administrative support for planning and engineering.

Budget watchers and commissioners pressed staff on several revenue and cost categories. The finance director pointed to projected growth in taxable value (about 6.5 percent overall, driven by Proposal A assessment adjustments and uncapping) and said that growth offsets the lower millage; she estimated an average residential annual tax change of about $80 under the recommended rate. She also noted that not all property-tax dollars are retained by the city: roughly 34 cents of every property-tax dollar goes to the city, while other shares go to the county, state education and the school district.

On timing and scope, the city manager emphasized the FY2026 recommendation is only for the coming fiscal year and that the budget book shows a three-year operating view and a six-year capital improvement plan for planning purposes.

The commission did not take final action at the hearing; staff said they will return in late May/early June with a vote-ready budget ordinance for the commission.

Ending

The public hearing record remains open while the city compiles any public comments taken at the numerical-section breaks that were part of the meeting format. Staff said they will incorporate input from the hearing and return in late May or early June for the commission's formal adoption vote.","City Manager presented a balanced FY2026 recommended budget that reduces the operating millage to 13.1183 and proposes $30.1 million for capital projects, with $18.4 million targeted to streets, water and sewer.",{"_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},6573978,"Commission debates prioritizing street repairs, Derby Bridge and sidewalk projects amid larger six-year capital plan",420,4380000,4800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49&start=4380&end=4800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49/thumbnail_4380000.jpg","/articles/6573978/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Commission-debates-prioritizing-street-repairs-Derby-Bridge-and-sidewalk-projects-amid-larger-six-year-capital-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573978-72747d8745db76a69d01264f38629001/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197670&Signature=bqKyx-zxdGSQZO~t~zQAD5-w7hRoy-V46JsmGPTW4LtJH2aNDxOcrU0w1rpBatrNpvcrBawHKNs52c8oJBAtyvZdtJEy8FPJc1Vn1GZdMWVNPbz4WLwXYwDtX0md~B9KvXVnqkgyx3BXFaWg-2zXoMb7oMaWKLgqSh7ftQ4RFT-Bq3DOrw3ETRfHaLOjb0Q1pASgBPxS7sa36Lu9J9fML~YrKtuPoROwZLtQ2YtFwZZb8QeUzZN5pCLlTt3aMtRMk03TiXkvpKs5RrNqH~EHhgy5xhyCGXFW03hYN42dsAO7~hjdMwgUPb6qKYheulatifRhMVb-1cxWJ9ku9gZ0Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Engineering and Public Services staff presented the city's multi-year capital-improvement plan and a detailed road-by-road schedule tied to available funding.

The FY2026 recommended capital program allocates $30.1 million overall and about $18.4 million to streets, water and sewer. Staff described the year's expected major projects: South Eaton Road (resurfacing and new bike lanes), design work for North Old Woodward resurfacing, Wimbledon reconstruction (easterly portion), and several local-street annual programs (concrete repair, cape seal, resurfacing). The plan also anticipates a large, single-year spike in needed funds for the Derby Bridge project in FY2027, which staff estimated at roughly $5.5 million for replacement.

Staff said project timing responds to multiple constraints: engineering design lead time, coordination with adjacent jurisdictions, grant-application windows and reserve balances across funds. The public works director and the city engineer explained that major and local streets are separate state- and city-classified systems (Act 51 classifications), which affects funding sources and responsibilities.

Commissioners pressed for clearer public communications and asked staff for a higher-level summary so residents can see how rising taxable values and transfers affect the city's capacity to fix streets. Several commissioners asked staff to re-examine the city's prioritization rubric to allow limited flexibility for streets that score low on subsurface metrics but are in poor surface condition and generate frequent complaints (Cole Street and sections of Lincoln were mentioned by name). The commission also raised the idea of polling residents about infrastructure spending priorities to confirm whether roads should be elevated above other items.

Staff noted that transfer patterns and carryovers from prior years can produce peaks and valleys in project spending and that year-to-year changes reflect both project timing and fund-transfer decisions. The city manager and finance director said they would prepare clearer, consolidated visuals and scenarios for how additional road spending or reallocation of transfers would affect fund balances and tax/millage outcomes.

Ending

Staff agreed to produce a concise public-facing summary of the six-year capital plan and to return with options for limited re-prioritization, the financial trade-offs of increasing resurfacing or cape-seal budgets, and results of any polling or additional public outreach the commission requests.","Engineering and public works presented a six-year capital improvement plan that spends roughly $18.4 million of FY2026's $30.1 million capital budget on streets, water and sewer. Major projects highlighted included South Eaton Road (resurfacing and bike lanes), Wimbledon reconstruction phases, and the Derby Bridge replacement (estimated $5.5",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573983,"Parking fund faces multimillion-dollar garage repairs; commission asks staff to study revenue options",576,6833000,7409000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49&start=6833&end=7409","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3139174-cb85d06e291df3403192ffee60185f49/thumbnail_6833000.jpg","/articles/6573983/Birmingham-City/Oakland-County/Michigan/Parking-fund-faces-multimillion-dollar-garage-repairs-commission-asks-staff-to-study-revenue-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573983-ef26f62de816d888cba3f3f0fd472058/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197670&Signature=lNF07DdWL6NrAfkD04BfJcJdR8jNsyQlaMVXsT91QC4bG65EBs07mlYm6WBro-vdgS-zPtwNn4PHFklrdjT5bPzz0zFspmynoFt8gIMltkselX-P~d-2~YapsnpT4u~424gMJY~vYmTGaDwp21fMniy1mdJubwjdbv3etqt24Q9hUz2B08pNi~7M7DIbj1qN4RIau5DLUEGgyS~iL35qp-7Ki6~jumpwzjHg9z~pP~YeKTSXKOIfp9Yt7OGlie2DOz71n0nHU2CwexbpJ-xzYyO583doTOjUNXs6UiX4eUHHlzx5Jn1t~pPEHVY9nrXtxU1RY7YNFoKGNTus3aVKrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City parking staff and the finance department reported a large, multi-year capital program for the city's parking garages during the FY2026 budget hearing and asked the commission to consider options for recovering more of the costs through parking revenues.

Finance staff reported a net position in the parking system of about $38.3 million but noted that the condition work at Chester Garage produced unexpectedly high repair costs — roughly $5 million for concrete/waterproofing and associated repairs. Staff said design packages for the next garages (Peabody, Pierce and others) were delayed while the city coordinated aesthetic and interior design choices with a visible transformation concept the city's consultants and the Birmingham Center for the Arts are developing.

The parking director said some capital numbers in the budget are placeholders because designers and the BCT have not finalized concept-level decisions; staff said those figures could decrease or increase depending on decisions about finishes, elevator modernization and lobby treatments. Elevator modernization, additional security cameras, and other equipment replacements were called out as portion of the multi-year capital needs. Staff said kiosks and in-structure parking equipment also are reaching the end of warranty and that maintenance costs are rising.

Commissioners pressed staff on revenue strategies. Staff said the FY2026 budget does not assume any immediate rate increases but that the city is weighing options for monthly and daily rate changes after capital repairs are finished. Commissioners proposed more aggressive revenue modeling and asked the city to charge the advisory Parking Committee (APC) and staff with producing specific recommendations: monthly vs. daily rate adjustments, targeted increases for certain garages after refurbishment, and alternative fees such as a congestion or entertainment-specific surcharge.

The parking presentation prompted broader policy questions: how to balance keeping downtown accessible and competitive for shoppers with the enterprise fund's need to cover capital projects. Commissioners directed staff to return with revenue scenarios and cash-flow models and asked the APC to evaluate phased rate changes tied to completed capital work.

Ending

Staff said they will bring back refined cost estimates for the upcoming garage projects and revenue modeling for commission review prior to the budget adoption vote.","City staff told commissioners the parking system has spent roughly $8.4 million on garage repairs since 2021 and faces additional capital needs that could reach millions more if full remodeling is pursued. Chester Garage repairs alone approached $5 million, and work at other decks (Peabody, Park Street, North Old Woodward) is planned. Staff said","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City's draft FY2026 budget includes 20% proposed water, 14% sewer rate increases; county approvals still required

Birmingham releases recommended FY2026 budget with lower millage, $30.1 million in capital projects

Commission debates prioritizing street repairs, Derby Bridge and sidewalk projects amid larger six-year capital plan

Parking fund faces multimillion-dollar garage repairs; commission asks staff to study revenue options