KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Faced with making some cuts in programs next year to bridge a shortfall, city commissioners in Kalamazoo plan to hold a public hearing on their 2016 city budget on Monday.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell says a $500,000 grant to Kalamazoo Public Safety and a one-time increase in funding because due to a change in state property tax laws will help shrink what was projected to be a multimillion dollar deficit.
Commissioners are also looking for a way to erase a $500,000 deficit in the solid waste program, which is funded through a special millage approved by voters.
They are considering a small increase in the millage to cover the difference. The program pays for everything from street sweeping, to leaf pickup in the fall, to the popular recycling and monthly household trash pick-up programs.
Commissioners will be looking at several options, from cutting some services, to requesting a property tax hike of up to four-tenths of a mill. They could also dip into the general fund, but that would just mean cutting something else.
The program currently assesses about 1.55 mills annually. Voters have authorized commissioners to go up to three mills to cover their costs.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
You can view the budget proposal at the city’s website.
– John McNeill
