KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo City Commission will meet tonight to finalize the city’s 2016 budget.
The meeting was moved to Tuesday because of the holiday.
It will include a budget for the Metro Transit System for the last time. The bus service will be taken over by a countywide authority later this year.
It will also be the last time they use a traditional budget process. This coming year, they will begin priority-based budgeting, a year-long process to identify cuts to help ease structural deficits.
“Through the priority-based budgeting process, it’s going to be important that citizens stay connected and engaged, because the challenges are going to become more difficult,” Hopewell said.
The spending plan is expected to slightly increase the millage for solid waste service, but also cut the number of curbside trash pickups from 12 to four later this year.
It will also set aside $50,000 for the purchase of body cameras for Kalamazoo Public Safety.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 7 p.m.
– John McNeill
