The 2026 Michigan state budget plan recently approved by the state House of Representatives includes $2.3 million for a new Waterford fire station, gophouse.org reported.

The plan is to replace Waterford’s Fire Station No. 2, which is more than 70 years old, outdated, and structurally unsound.

The building suffers from major issues, including asbestos, mold, failing HVAC and electrical systems, and frequent sewer backs up. It is also undersized and lacks proper storage and decontamination space, which is needed to reduce exposure to cancer-causing chemicals and harmful materials.

Staffed 24/7 by four firefighters, the station is no longer sufficient for current needs. It does not provide separate sleeping quarters for male and female staff, and the garage no longer has adequate space to accommodate the fire trucks.

Because expansion is not feasible due to a nearby sewer line, the township plans to sell the current station and build a new facility on vacant township owned property. The new fire station will serve as a first-response hub for residents of Waterford Township and Lake Angelus, and as the first backup from Waterford for Independence Township and Pontiac. The station also covers Auburn Hills, Springfield Township, and the Oakland County International Airport.

It took considerable effort to get this funding included in the budget plan. The House budget includes just under $100M of earmarks, a sharp drop from the approximately $1 billion in pork barrel spending typical in recent years. That’s because the House GOP cut most earmarks in order to eliminate waste and free up money for road funding. The earmark requests that made it into the budget are for projects that address critical infrastructure and public safety needs.

To that point, Harris successfully argued that the spending is for necessary public safety infrastructure, and that it will benefit multiple communities, justifying the state’s involvement.

“This is a public safety issue for multiple jurisdictions,” Harris said. “From a logistics points of view, the station location makes it a very needed resource for surrounding communities, so it’s for more than just Waterford.”

The total cost of building a new station is estimated at $11 million; the $2.3 million from the state will help defray that cost and lessen the burden on local taxpayers.

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