ROMULUS, Mich. — The Romulus City Council has decided not to open a formal investigation into the city’s contract for Flock Safety license plate cameras, voting 4-3 against the inquiry at a special meeting Monday.
The question centered on the Tax Increment Finance Authority, the development board that approved the deal. Its April 8 agenda listed a contract capped at $47,500, but the agreement signed the next day called for $90,000 a year over a three-year term, or $270,000 in all.
Mayor Robert McCraight blamed the gap on a clerical typo and said the city’s legal team will go through the contract closely as part of an internal audit. He said the system was first paid for out of the police public safety budget before the board picked up part of the cost.
Councilmember Kathy Abdo, who backed the inquiry, said the push was about accountability and answers, not removing cameras. Councilmember Mark Wilhide defended the cameras as a tool that can help police find a missing child.
Council members and the mayor said talks will continue on who can see the data the cameras collect and on possible rules for the system. McCraight said the city would cancel the contract if outside parties were found to be breaking its terms.
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