KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo city commissioners will take their show on the road this evening, traveling a few blocks for a town forum on the memorandum of understanding that could make all the difference for the city.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell said the agreement with the donors sets up how their $70 million grant will be managed for three years. It also spells out that the city will create a foundation to continue supporting the city budget when that initial grant runs out.
Hopewell says he hopes to not only lower property taxes and erase the city’s deficit but also to do some things toa improve the plight of the poor but to “create new opportunities that not only direct those issues, but ‘amazingness’ for our city.”
It could do for the city, what The Kalamazoo Promise has done for Kalamazoo schools, by bring back growth. Lowering property taxes to 12 mills will make the city more competitive for development of all kinds.
Hopewell said that is a very different option than the usual approach which is just to pass a millage.
“Instead I get to sit across the table and say we are going to charge you less, without harming city services,” Hopewell said.
It will get a full discussion tonight and Mayor Hopewell says he hopes to put it to a vote and get it rolling before the meeting is over.
It starts at 6 p.m. in the Anna Whitten Room at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s downtown campus on Rose Street.
