City to consider approval of Flint’s 2026-27 budget in public meeting

FLINT, Mich. — After several weeks of review, Flint City Council is set to consider approval of the city’s proposed 2026-27 budget.

A special council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 18, 2026, in the council’s chambers on the third floor of Flint City Hall. Council members plan to host a community hearing at the meeting about the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026–2027 budget, as well as the forecasted fiscal year 2027–2028 budget.

Following the hearing, members of the council will consider a resolution to approve the city’s 2026–2027 operating budget. 

Flint Mayor Sheldon A. Neeley submitted his budget to council on March 2. In the weeks that followed, the city council hosted six public hearings to question department heads about proposed spending and staffing plans.

A recurring topic across the hearings has been a push from multiple city departments to increase staffing numbers in the coming year. 

Flint Fire Chief Theron Wiggins said during an April 6 meeting, he hopes to hire more firefighters to fill out the department’s roster by August 2026. The fire department currently employs 96 firefighters and has the potential to hire up to 106 under the current budget, Wiggins said.

In addition to hiring more officers, Police Chief Terence Green said his department aims to bolster its community engagement through initiatives like the “Citizen’s Police Academy” pilot program. The academy, set to launch in July, will be designed to give applicants a “bird’s eye view” of the daily life of a Flint police officer, without the requirement for rigorous physical training officers typically go through.

Flint’s Building & Safety Inspections division will continue looking for long-term employees for its in-house plumbing inspector and mechanical inspector positions, Chief Building Official Mike Reiter said previously. The department currently fills those roles through subcontracting.

The Parks & Recreation Department will also keep an eye open for opportunities to increase staffing over the next year. The department is looking to hire two new full-time staffers for the positions of administrative analyst and park safety facilities specialist, said Parks Planner Diana Degner. 

A copy of both the proposed fiscal year 2026–2027 budget and the forecasted fiscal year 2027–2028 budget is available on the city’s website or at the City Clerk’s Office.

Residents who need disability accommodations to participate in the hearing can request assistance by emailing CouncilPublicComment@cityofflint.com with the subject line “Request for Accommodation” or by contacting the city clerk at 810-766-7418.