![]() ![]() Marsh said the city’s public services remain strong, due in part to Proposal MH, which voters narrowly approved in 2019. Overall, this represents an 8.7% increase from the amended budget revenues for FY 2023. The city anticipates general fund revenues of $39 million in FY 2024, including a $2.1 million transfer from the retiree benefits trust. In addition, the Fire Department will receive a new quint - a combination fire engine and ladder truck. Nine police vehicles will be replaced, along with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Police Department. Staffing levels will be maintained in the police and fire departments, and a new part-time code enforcement officer will supplement the two full-time officers. The new budget includes $9.5 million for capital improvements, with $4.1 million for work on major and local streets, $220,000 to install streetlights on the west side of Dequindre Road where none currently exist, and $1.4 million for water and sewer service line replacements. The budget for FY 2024 was also balanced with an additional planned use of $10,000. Marsh said her staff was mindful of this policy, which the city established in its citywide strategic plan. Now, the city anticipates the assigned fund balance will be reduced to $5.6 million by the end of FY 2024, which meets the required minimum fund balance of 16% plus one year of debt payments. ![]() In terms of fund balance, Marsh said that in fiscal years 2019-23, the city kept it higher than usual ($14.1 million) to cover prepaid expenditures and planned infrastructure maintenance related to the projects at Civic Center Plaza and Fire Station No. Water rates will increase from $3.27 per unit to $4.26 per unit, while the sewer rate will increase from $3.69 per unit to $6.30 per unit. While the overall millage rate is decreasing, taxpayers will see an increase in their water and sewer rates. The fire station bond debt will no longer be levied. The rate also includes special millages such as neighborhood road improvements, solid waste, senior citizens, police and retiree benefits, and the drain debt. The millage rate includes the general fund ($38.8 million), which supports police, fire and EMS, the court, general administration, parks, library, recreation, the city clerk and elections. The city collects $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, multiplied by the millage rate. The millage rate is 25.5288 mills - one-half mill less than FY 2023. City Manager Melissa Marsh attributes the difference to changes in retiree benefits, as well as the fact that FY 2023 bore the brunt of construction costs for the new Civic Center Plaza, which included a renovated City Hall and library, along with a new Active Adult Center between them. Weighing in at $61.9 million, the overall budget is a decrease from the amended FY 2023 total of $81.4 million. “In many ways, this is just an extension of what we’ve been doing the last four years, with increased revenue from our focus on economic development, increased investments in our parks and recreation, and continued investment into public safety.” “The last place in our job where we want there to be any drama is the budget, and this budget was the least dramatic in some time,” he said. Mark Bliss, the mayor pro tem, described the budget as uneventful. The only member absent was David Soltis, but he said after the meeting that he also would have approved it. The council approved the package, 6-0, at its regular meeting May 8. MADISON HEIGHTS - The city millage rate will drop by half a mill for the new fiscal year, beginning July 1, now that the Madison Heights City Council has adopted its budget. Mark Bliss, Madison Heights mayor pro tem ![]() “We are strong enough that we can weather a storm, if needed, and I think that should provide a lot of confidence to our residents.” ![]()
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