COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A budget workshop with Coldwater City Council members will be held Monday night as work begins on the fiscal year 2017 budget which begins on July 1, 2016.
City Manager Jeff Budd says projected revenues show a slow but steady community growth. He feels the state of Michigan continues to underfund local governments. The projected 2017 revenue is $977,000 but there are fears the state may cut that money again. The 2016 revenue from the State was $939,000 which was a reduction from the original estimate of $978,000.
The budget includes borrowing to pay for significant capital assets purchases. Interest rates are historically low now but are expected to go up in 2017.
The proposed budget has $10.6 million in expenditures including $2 million for capital expenditures and proposed revenues of just over $10 million which leaves a deficit of just over $569,000. The current year budget had a deficit of about $125,000.
The bids for the replacement of the Heritage Park tennis courts came in higher than expected so that has led to the scope of the project being reduced. Planters and concrete areas will be reduced with the tight funding. Four of the courts will be lighted.
As for staffing, Budd says there are increased demands for services but they are doing more with less employees than ever. Areas of concern include clerical staffing, DMS and neighborhood services, engineering, building and grounds and recreation. Budd says the current labor shortage has been solved with part-timers and interns as well as contracting.
The bond issue that was passed in 2014 is being used to finance the reconstruction of Pearl, Hanchett, Pierson, Montgomery, Marshall and West Pierce Streets as well as the Tibbits Parking Plaza.
