Wayne County 2025-26 budget shows stability, funds key projects

Published on September 30, 2025

Newly approved Wayne County budget shows stability, sets key priorities

       Wayne County Commissioners today unanimously approved a 2025-26 county operating budget that sets key priorities in public health, public safety, housing support and road repair and maintenance despite bracing for potential cuts in revenue from the federal government.

          Bolstered by rising property tax assessments, the $847 million general fund budget shows a $47 million increase from the previous year’s budget.

The new budget goes into effect Oct. 1.

          “Wayne County residents will again have their key needs met and we have been fortunate enough to add several new initiatives to improve the lives of our residents,” commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said. “This shows what can be accomplished when all branches of county government work together. It’s a statement of values in our community with our residents in mind.”

          Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch (D-Detroit), chair of the commission’s Ways & Means Committee, which held budget hearings throughout the month, also praised the cooperative spirit behind this year’s budget.

          “County Executive (Warren C.) Evans, all other elected officials and all department heads were realistic in their budget proposals and mindful of the uncertainty now surrounding federal funding.”

          Guarding against potential shortfalls, the budget includes a $30.9 million surplus.

          Among budget highlights:

• Public health spending includes $2 million for at risk children to receive eye care and glasses while another $500,000 is earmarked for a mobile food truck program to bring healthy food items to underserved areas.
• Public safety spending includes $1.6 million for the Violent Crimes Joint Task Force, including the sheriff’s department and other regional and local agencies.
• The budget includes $12 million for the county’s HOME program to assist first-time home buyers with down payments and closing costs.

In addition, some 300 miles of county roads will be repaired in the coming year through the public services budget. Also, the budget calls for $3 million to be allocated for signal preemption technology placed within police and fire department vehicles and at designated intersections to coordinate with stoplights across 13 communites.

Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell elected 2nd vice president of NACo

Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) was elected 2nd vice president of the National Organization of Counties (NACo) during the organization’s annual policy conference, held July 11-14 in Philadelphia.

With her election, Chair Bell becomes the third ranking elected official of NACo, which draws members from and advocates on behalf of counties throughout the U.S.

She will become the organization’s president for the 2027 session.

“I am deeply honored to have been elected by my peers to this important position and will use my experience to bring the needs of all counties and their residents to national attention,” Chair Bell said.

Chair Bell was among more than 3,000 county officials, including 70 from Michigan, attending this year’s policy conference, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Major themes of the event included cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in the workplace, disaster response and economics and county workforces.

“These are topics that have all dominated the news this year and we have worked together and will continue to work together on unified, proactive responses,” Chair Bell said.

Stephan W. Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, said Chair Bell’s election was a subject of great joy for Michigan attendees. “Every NACo conference is an informational marathon,” he said. “There’s so much to learn, it can be exhausting. But the fact that so many of our county leaders take on the challenge speaks well of them and of Michigan county governance. And, of course, we could not be more excited about Alisha Bell’s victory and having one of our members serving in senior leadership of this national organization.”

Chair Bell has long been active with NACo, having served as chair of its Justice and Public Safety Committee, president of the National Association of Black County Officials and Women of NACo and as a founding member and executive board member of NextGen NACo. For more information on NACo, visit www.naco.org. For more information on the Michigan Association of Counties, visit www.micounties.org.