Detroit — Mayor Mary Sheffield on Monday proposed a “livable wage” for all full-time city of Detroit workers as part of her first city budget, which also includes a small property tax cut, and a host of changes intended to boost affordable housing, public transportation and city services.
The livable wage is part of Sheffield’s proposed $3.047 billion budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which starts July 1. It would be applied to full-time city of Detroit employees, who will earn a minimum of $44,616 annually starting July 1.
Unveiling the livable wage as part of a press conference Monday morning, Sheffield said it impacts about 900 workers, about 70% of whom live in the city. The raise will cost the city about $8 million, she said.
“This budget focuses on building strong and safer, investing in our children, our youth and our small businesses and reducing poverty and supporting our most vulnerable residents,” Sheffield said during her Detroit City Council presentation.
The proposed budget — which will now go through a series of City Council hearings for each department — reflects a 1.1% decrease from the current budget, said Donnie Johnson, the city’s deputy Chief Financial Officer and acting budget director.
Sheffield also proposed a 1 mill cut in the current property tax rate. One mill represents $1 of taxes for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. Detroit has some of the highest property tax rates in the country and Sheffield pledged to make tax relief a priority during her campaign.
“We all know that property tax relief is a major concern for our residents in our businesses, and as this administration continues to pursue comprehensive property tax reform,” Sheffield said.
The proposed budget also includes funds for a range of programs aimed at improving youth and senior citizen services and neighborhoods. That includes the return of midnight basketball leagues at various public parks and community centers, and a $500,000 increase in funding to the Grow Detroit’s Young Talent for a total of $2.5 million.
It also includes a $30 million increase to the current Detroit Department of Transportation budget.
“This budget proposes a historic $220 million transportation operations budget” for DDOT, Sheffield said.
Other items included in Sheffield’s proposed budget are $1 million to remove dead, dangerous and diseased trees, and $8 million for sidewalk repair.
“It drives me crazy that in the midst of the revitalization of our city, that we have so many generational Detroiters who are calling asking when their sidewalks will be repaired,” Sheffield said.
She wants the city to clear the entire backlog of broken sidewalks within one year.
Many of the 9 council members praised elements of Sheffield’s budget.
“Thank you for addressing systemic poverty,” said Councilwoman Mary Waters.
Sheffield’s presentation begins a month-long series of public hearings regarding specific departments budgets and leads to a final City Council vote in early April to approve the budget.
City officials say Detroit’s coffers are in stable. The city has had 12 consecutive years of a balanced budget.
laguilar@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Sheffield pitches livable wage, property tax cut as part of first proposed budget as mayor
Reporting by Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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