AUDIO: Area governments watching federal government closely concerning local funding

PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo area governmental officials are closely monitoring events in Washington as the Trump administration seeks to slash federal spending in ways that may trickle down to local budgets.

Portage City Manager Pat McGinnis told his council this week that several local leaders recently got a chance to meet with Michigan’s new Democratic Senator, Elissa Slotkin, and she had mixed news.

That may be good news for the city of Kalamazoo, which is relying on tens of millions of federal dollars to rebuild downtown streets and water utility projects over the next few years.

Portage councilmember Chris Burns, who sits on the Metro Transit board, says the municipal bus system has also been closely monitoring their federal support, particularly reimbursement for several recently purchased buses.

Burns says memos from the state suggest that uncertainty remains about funding for transportation agencies the future.