ANN ARBOR, MI – If the new Ann Arbor City Council tries to undo a pledge to fund affordable housing, climate action and pedestrian safety with new tax money, the move could be vetoed.

Mayor Christopher Taylor expressed strong objections Monday night, March 4 to a colleague’s proposal to backtrack on the commitment the council made to voters in 2017 regarding how the city would spend more than $2 million per year in new annual revenue.

The new millage, levied by the county for the first time in December, is primarily for county mental health and county sheriff’s services, but as voters approved in November 2017, about a quarter of the money is being shared with seven municipalities that fund their own police departments, and they can use those rebates as they see fit.

Back when Taylor and his allies had majority control of council, they pledged to put 40 percent of the city’s rebate toward affordable housing, 40 percent toward climate action and 20 percent toward pedestrian safety. The makeup of council changed in November and there’s now talk of undoing that funding pledge.

“Following through with our 40-40-20 resolution is of foundational importance to me and I will do everything I can to ensure that we do,” Taylor said Monday night, hinting at a possible veto.

Council Member Jane Lumm, an independent from the 2nd Ward, argues the council shouldn’t have its hands tied on how to spend potentially $20 million in new revenue over the next eight years.

She put forward a resolution Monday night to nullify the council’s previous policy, but after backlash from many community members and climate activists, and feedback from some colleagues who thought the move was premature, Lumm withdrew her proposal.

She still vows to bring back a similar proposal in April after the city receives more resident feedback on how to spend the money.

Even if a proposal to undo the 40-40-20 plan has six votes needed to pass, it likely wouldn’t have the eight votes needed to override a mayoral veto, so Taylor could block the move.

Council Member Julie Grand, D-3rd Ward, one of the mayor’s three close allies on council, pointed that out.

“You’ve heard from the mayor, who’s much nicer than I am, so I’m going to translate his words in less-nice language: He will veto any attempt to overturn 40-40-20,” Grand said. “And as one of my colleagues used to say, I don’t count eight votes at this table.”

The 40-40-20 plan won’t solve all of the world’s problems, but it is time to take action, Taylor argues.

“When I, with other colleagues, proposed the 40-40-20 resolution back in June 2017, we did so knowing that climate action and affordable housing and pedestrian safety have long been in Ann Arbor somewhere between underfunded and unfunded,” Taylor said.

The county millage rebate afforded a historic opportunity to better fund those community priorities, he said.

Taylor acknowledges there’s no legal obligation for the new council to uphold the commitment the old council made to voters ahead of the 2017 millage vote, but he believes council still should honor it.

“The funding designated by 40-40-20 will have a substantial benefit for our community,” he said. “It’ll fund streetlights, crosswalk improvements. It’ll provide direct subsidy and provide much-needed capital for our affordable housing needs. And it will drive the incredible and innovative work of the office of sustainability.”

Other council members said they’re not trying to defund affordable housing, climate action and pedestrian safety, but they still have concerns about the 40-40-20 plan.

“We’ve been sent hundreds of emails in these last few days telling us that we’re attempting to defund these issues if we were to support a resolution to break the chains of the resolution that was passed in 2017,” said Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward.

“Myself and others were not present in 2017, but yet we’re given the responsibility of forming a budget and putting our priorities in line with our dollars,” Ramlawi said, arguing the city’s staff isn’t going to do anything different unless the council sets a new direction, and the council is simply asking to take control of the budget.

“I find these conversations extremely awkward and it’s not my fault,” said Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, another new council member who argues past actions have put the current council in a tough spot.

“I didn’t sign on for this plan ….,” she said. “It’s not really fair to us.”

Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, another new council member, said he’s been overwhelmed with emails from hundreds of people on the topic.

“I’m not a fan of the 40-40-20 promise for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with the intent of the spending,” he said. “I fully support spending on climate action goals and affordable housing and public safety, but being bound to this 40-40-20 ratio for eight years is a bad budget practice. Our needs change.”