Flint council rejects DDA millage, citing missing budgets and past spending questions

Council considered Resolution 260183 to levy a Downtown Development Authority operating millage for the downtown district. Several council members said they had not received DDA budgets or reliable financial statements and cited prior incidents of questionable spending. Councilwoman Burns described past purchases and said the DDA’s recent documentation was insufficient: “This is one page with zero accountability, zero transparency,” she said, and opposed the measure.

A DDA board member present, Mr. Meny, told council he had been on the board about two years and said he did not know that the board had declined to provide financials; he suggested the board may not have been aware of council’s expectation. Council pressed the city attorney on what remedies exist to compel DDA compliance with state law; the attorney said city options are limited and that a state complaint could be required.

On roll call the DDA operating millage failed, 1–7. Councilmembers who opposed the millage said they would pursue documentation and ask the city attorney to advise on next steps before considering future DDA funding requests.