3/27/13 - Last night was the second in a series of workshops being held by the Brighton City Council with its various department heads to discuss the proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. The budget, which begins on July 1st, has a projected shortfall of about $150,000. The workshops, led by City manager Dana Foster, allow the city leaders to examine projections for the next six budget years as well as possible expenditure cuts that would keep the city in the black for the long term. Foster identified possible cuts last night, including reducing city staff by attrition as in years past, while council members examined several expenditures they thought could be reduced. Foster also proposed a new source of revenue that could be made available by asking voters to approve an override to the Headlee Amendment. This would allow the city to increase the property tax by up to one mil every year until the cityâs charter millage cap of 20 is hit. Foster tells WHMI that combined with expenditure cuts, this would keep the city financially stable for the foreseeable future. It could even allow for capital improvements and the repeal of the refuse user fees enacted several years ago. If offered by council, the millage could go before voters in November. The next workshop will take place tonight at 6:30 in the Brighton City Council chambers. (TD)
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