LANSING, Mich. — City officials in Lansing are in the final stages of approving the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with a focus on increasing funding for public safety and implementing higher fees for key city services. The city is required to approve a balanced budget by May 19, and while modest revenue increases are anticipated, Mayor Andy Schor has emphasized that next year’s budget will not differ drastically from the current one.
In his discussions about the budget, Mayor Schor expressed confidence in the proposed allocation of funds, particularly for public safety, which remains a top priority. “I thought it was a pretty good budget,” Schor said. “We’re covering a whole lot of things in the budget—public safety, police, fire, social services, parks, roads, and sidewalks. We’re covering everything the city needs.”
A significant portion of the proposed budget is earmarked for public safety enhancements. Among the proposed changes are plans to add ten more officers to the police force, funded through state revenue sharing, and to hire an additional full-time firefighter. Mayor Schor highlighted that, in addition to staffing, investments will be made in necessary equipment, including new fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, and technology for officers.
“We have equipment, cars, technology—everything from software to guns and all the tools that our officers need to stay safe,” said Schor. “We’re also purchasing better ambulances and fire trucks to ensure our first responders are well-equipped.”
Despite these investments, some city council members, including Jeremy Garza, are urging for even greater allocations to public safety. Garza, who represents Lansing’s second ward, argued that the city needs more than just a handful of new hires and equipment upgrades. “We should have at least seven more ambulances, and that requires additional staff to operate them,” Garza said. “We can’t just keep stretching our current firefighters thin. We’re at a breaking point right now.”
Garza expressed concerns that while the budget includes important allocations for public safety, it might still fall short of meeting the city’s long-term needs. He stressed the importance of staffing levels in emergency services, particularly for fire and EMS, noting that tax dollars should be spent where the public’s safety and well-being are most at risk.
“That would be something we’d have to look at in terms of priorities,” Garza said. “There are plenty of feel-good programs out there, and while our community needs them, we also need to ensure that we’re providing adequate public safety. If we don’t have the necessary staffing, we’re going to see a reduction in services that people are paying for.”
In addition to changes in public safety funding, Lansing residents can expect some fee increases under the new budget. Garbage collection rates will rise by $4 for a standard cart, and other minor increases are planned for services such as after-school programs and park rentals.
As the city council continues to review and finalize the budget, it remains clear that balancing the need for enhanced public safety with the demand for other services will be a key challenge in the months ahead. While Mayor Schor is comfortable with the proposed increases, some council members and residents are pushing for even more resources to ensure the city’s emergency services can keep up with growing demands.
