KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo’s Blue Ribbon Revenue Task Force has come up with five recommended ways the city might seek new sources of income but there is not unanimity on the panel.
They voted not to recommend an income tax, a Headlee Override or special assessments.
They will recommend five items. Two of them are already being pursued: Consolidated dispatch and filling vacant lots, homes and businesses to generate property taxes. Neither are expected to generate significant new revenue any time soon.
The panel also recommends piggy-backing on the county’s law enforcement millage, which is up for a six-year renewal next May.
They also say the city should explore regional consolidation of the water and sewer system. But that is a self-supporting enterprise fund and has no impact on the city’s General Fund Budget.
Their fifth recommendation, selling the parking system, would not likely generate the millions the city needs. In fact, the panel is only recommending a review of parking privatization to determine if it makes sense.
Manager Jim Ritsema says the panel’s recommendations are just that, non-binding suggestions that will be considered but he says the ultimate decision will be up to city commissioners. Some of the options that may ultimately be pursued may also require voter approval.
The Blue Ribbon Panel will meet one more time on Dec. 7 to review their final report, and perhaps prepare a minority report. There was some strong opposition to the task force’s recommendations on the panel itself.
Task Force co-chairperson Maddie Jordan Woods was critical of the final list. She asked that a statement from her be attached to the final report stating that many on the task force were representatives of non-city interests.
She also alleged the panel went beyond its charge, recommending solutions the city has no control over.
She claims only one of the five final recommendations meets the criterion set by commissioners for the task force’s work.
The panel’s goal is to deliver the final report to the city commission by Jan. 1.
– John McNeill
