5 things to know about city's elected watchdog suing Grand Rapids leaders
MLive / The Grand Rapids Press · January 7, 2026 · By Melissa Frick
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The city of Grand Rapids is facing a lawsuit from one of its elected officials over the reassignment of city auditing and accounting staff last year. City Comptroller Max Frantz alleges the removal of 13 full-time staff from his department impedes his oversight duties over the city's spending.
1. What is the comptroller's office? The comptroller's office serves as the city's accounting department, conducting internal audits and managing payroll, accounts payable and accounting services. The comptroller is an elected position; Frantz was appointed to the vacant role in 2019 and then elected by voters in 2022. Of the office's 16 full-time staff, 13 were reassigned to a new fiscal services department reporting to the CFO, leaving the comptroller with three.
2. Why was the office restructured? City officials attributed the move to efficiency issues and high staff turnover. Frantz attributed the turnover to a department that had been overworked and understaffed for years, and said the plan was made without his input. Former City Treasurer Al Mooney also pushed back, saying a separate, well-staffed comptroller's office is necessary as a watchdog over city spending.
3. Why is the comptroller fighting the move? Frantz alleges the city eliminated a vital separation of powers. In a November letter to auditors, he said the move "eliminated the separation of powers and duties amongst appointed and elected officials" by giving the city manager control of budgeting, purchasing, payment issuance and accounting functions — functions the charter assigns to the comptroller.
4. What is the city saying? The city declined to comment after the suit was filed. Interim city attorney Philip Strom previously disputed Frantz's claims, noting the city manager is responsible for the budget and can reassign employees, and maintaining the change did not violate the charter or state law.
5. What is Frantz seeking? He is asking a Kent County judge to invalidate the reassignment, restore all transferred personnel to the supervision of the comptroller's office, and return all records and files removed from the office.