Mount Pleasant City Commission discusses 2025 budget
Outside of Mount Pleasant City Hall where City Commissions meetings are held.
Mount Pleasant City Commissions held a work session during their bi-weekly meeting to discuss budget plans for 2025 on Monday
City Manager Aaron Desentz reviewed questions that the commissioners had about the proposed operating budget for the city.
Public Safety will utilize the largest portion of the General Fund (49%) and they have the most city employees on their staff. Desentz said that it is very common in communities to spend 50% of expenditures on public safety services.
"I'll tell you not just comparable size, but all throughout the State of Michigan it really happens to be that about 50% of the general fund goes towards public safety organizations," Desentz said.
The proposed General Fund Revenue is $18.9 million. This money will come from ARPA Funds, property taxes, intergovermental and service charges. ARPA are taxpayer-supported federal funds awarded to municipalities to help them recover from the impact of the COVID-19.
Additionally, millage rates will stay the same assuming that there is a 2% increase in taxable value.
According to the State of Michigan, taxable value is the value on which property taxes are calculated.
A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 taxable value. Rather, City Manager Aaron Desentez said the city is banking on a 2% increase in taxable value next year, which will mean more value against which to leverage the millage. This would overall increase city revenue, according to Desentz.
The General Fund Expenditures is proposed at $19.1 million. To avoid deficit, the city plans on using savings.
One of the city's plans would be to expand the GKB Trail. The estimated cost for the 2025 GKB Trail extension project is $1.3 million. Potential grant funding could lessen the local cost by $600,000. Accoridng to the budget plan these savings could impact the City and Union Township contributions.
There will be a Public Budget Hearing at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the City Hall.
