KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on its proposed 2021 budget this week.
In total, the city is proposing a budget totaling $213,892,050, with $68.3 million allocated for the General Fund. For the General Fund, this represents an overall increase of 1.03% when compared to the Adopted 2020 Budget, according to city officials.
The overall city budget represents an increase of 5.29% from the 2020 Adopted Budget total of $203.1 million, according to officials.
If approved, the budget would increase capital investments, including to water and wastewater utilities, to replace and repair aging infrastructure. It also would increase funding for streets projects, such as Portage Street from Stockbridge to Michigan, and fund improvements to the Kalamazoo Farmers Market, as well as the construction of a new Public Safety Station in the Edison Neighborhood, among other capital projects.
The budget allows the city to maintain its current level of police and fire services.
During a virtual meeting Monday night, which was also the first of the year, Commissioners discussed the budget at length with city staff. Residents were also able to comment on the budget proposal by calling in and leaving a message.
Calls from area residents largely concerned funding for the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS), which encompasses 47.5 percent of the General Fund Budget.
Multiple callers expressed concerns that the allotment for KDPS was nearly half the proposed budget, and that the money should be used elsewhere. Some callers said that the money would be better used for purposes of addressing homelessness and sustainability.
However, both Mayor David Anderson said that number is only where the General Fund is concerned, not for the overall budget. Anderson said that the city budget allotment for KDPS is only 15 percent.
“Our budget is approximately 214 million, about 15 percent of that is public safety, not fifty percent,” Anderson said after the hearing closed.
Commissioner Jack Urban also clarified that notion towards the end of the meeting.
“It was reported that it was close to fifty percent of the budget, and was later corrected by the City Mayor as being fifteen percent of the budget,” Urban said. “Both of those numbers are correct, but you have to ask which budget we’re talking about. The statement that KDPS’s expenditures comprise nearly fifty percent of the city’s budget, that is the General Fund budget. That is the money that is raised from taxes and from state funding, revenue sharing, fees and permits. The total budget, which KDPS is only fifteen percent of total expenditures, that includes the enterprise funds. Both numbers are correct, but you have to say what budget we’re talking about when we use these percentages.”
He added that the Commission should be as precise as possible when engaging in public dialogue to avoid creating confusion.
“That was a terrible example of how easily it can be done,” Urban said. “I hope that we can be better in the future about tossing around numbers and percentages and take the time to put them in context, and to do the explaining that needs to go on. If we want to have their trust, we’re gonna have to earn it by being precise and concise.”
In relation to the Monday night meeting, the presentation was only a public hearing session, and Commissioners did not take any action on approving it. The presentation to adopt it will take place during the next city meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19 due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Under the city charter, the budget must be finalized and approved before the end of January.
Further reading –
- Residents can view the virtual city meeting on YouTube at this link.
- Residents can view the proposed 2021 budget on the City of Kalamazoo website at this link.
- Last month, City staff discussed proposed projects and goals under the 2021 budget. More information on that can be viewed here.
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