KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — City commissioners in Kalamazoo will hold their public hearing on the 2017 city budget this evening.
It’s a spending plan that is very different from the budgets of the last decade that have focused on cuts. Because of the Foundation for Excellence grant, the city for the first time has the funding to restore some of the jobs and programs they have had to slash in the last few years.
Commissioner Dave Anderson said it’s a much better situation to be in and a brighter future ahead for the city. But he also said a final determination on where some of the aspirational funding included in the grant will be spent will come out of a series of Imagine Kalamazoo meetings scheduled over the next two months. He says if you want to have some input, this is the time to do it.
A series of neighborhood meetings will be held over the next month. A list is below:
- January 17 – Vine Neighborhood meeting at El Sol Elementary – 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
- January 19 – Douglas Neighborhood Fire Station #5 – 6:30 to 8:00 pm
- January 24 – Stuart Neighborhood Woodward Elementary – 6:30 to 8:00 pm
- January 31 – West Main Hill Neighborhood Mandelle Hall – 6:00 to 7:30 pm
- February 1 – Edison Neighborhood Neighborhood Assoc.- 5:30 to 7:00 pm
- February 13 – Milwood Neighborhood Milwood Community Church – 6:30 to 8:00 pm
- February 16 – Arcadia/Westwood/WMU Location TBA – 5:30 to 7:00 pm
- February 22 – East Side/ Burke Acres St. Mary’s Church – 5:30 to 7:00 pm
- February 28 – Westnedge Hill/Southside Parkwood Upjohn Elem. – 6:00 to 7:30 pm
