KALAMAZOO (WKZO) — The City of Kalamazoo Has assembled a prestigious panel of 21 citizens,and leaders from education, the private sector and the non-profit sector to participate in a special Blue Ribbon Panel.
Their goal will be to find and recommend suitable alternatives for city revenue than the Property Taxes the city now relies on to fund city services.
City Residents: Linda Teeter (Parkview Hills) Carl Brown (Edison) Chris Praedel (Milwood) Patti Owens (Downtown) Mattie Jordan-Woods, Vice-Chair (Northside) Sheri Welsh, Chair (Milwood) Matt Milcarek (Vine) Andrew Haan (Arcadia) Deborah Gang (Westnedge Hill) Kip Miller (Winchell) Von Washington (Arcadia)Private Sector: Ron Kitchens (Southwest Michigan First) Tom Huff (Peregrine Realty) Jon Durham (Lifestory Network) Jim Escamilla (Byce & Associates)Non-Profit: Peggy Gagen (United Way) Mike Way (Bronson Hospital) Richard Felbinger (Borgess Hospital)Education: Gary Start (Kalamazoo Public Schools) Dr. Marilyn Schlack (Kalamazoo Valley Community College) Dr. John Dunn (Western Michigan University)
Currently the City is projecting annual deficits as far out as they can see because of the lingering effects of the Great Recession on property values and because 45% of the property in the city is non-taxable. It belongs to a University, or a Hospital or a school or church. If they hope to maintain city services, they will need to find a new source of funding.
The first meeting of the Panel will be this Monday, June 1 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Metro Transit facility at 530 N. Rose St. The second meeting will be held June 8 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in room 128A of KVCC’s Anna Whitten Hall, located at 202 N Rose St.If all goes as planned they will submit their findings and make recommendations to the City Commission this fall.
