The Wyoming City Council has approved the 2015 fiscal year budget, which continues to reflect the City’s dedication to sustainability in the years ahead.
The resolution to adopt the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 passed unanimously on May 19, as did resolutions to approve the 2014-2015 budget for the Wyoming Downtown Development Authority and the Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority.
The $108.8 million budget is 3 percent more than the current budget, which is a testament of City Manager Curtis Holt’s strategic approach to managing the City’s spending. Additionally, after five years of declining residential, commercial and industrial property value, the City anticipates a .8 percent increase in retail, commercial, industrial and residential property value. In the last six months of 2013, the City of Wyoming saw more than $60 million in new retail, commercial, industrial and residential development – a 100 percent increase – compared to approximately $6 million in new development over the same period in 2012.
Budget highlights include:
- Contract agreements for the Wyoming City Employees Union and the Administrative and Supervisory Administration, along with the deputy city manager and city clerk positions
- Funding for the 2014 – 2022 Street and Utility Capital Improvement Program, which will provide approximately $3 million per year over the next 10 years which will allow the city to leverage state funds for qualified projects and complete street surface improvement throughout the City
- Amendments to the City of Wyoming Fee Schedule to reflect a 3 percent increase in combined utility (water and sewer) rates
- The 2015 budget, which takes effect July 1, features a return to fully levying the 2010 public safety millage to fund continued implementation of the City’s innovative public safety service delivery model.
The Wyoming City Council has approved a ballot question for the Aug. 5 election to extend the millage for an additional five years. The funding would continue the new service delivery model, which has included:
- The addition of three full-time firefighters
- Implementation of peak-load staffing with more firefighters on duty during periods of high call volume
- Police accreditation in 2012 at the gold-level by CALEA and re-accreditation efforts
- Offering hands-on citizens’ academies that allow residents the opportunity to better understand the workings of the City
- An increase in utilization and total number of paid-on-call staff to 30
- Cross-training and licensing 16 City employees as firefighters
- Installation of police cruiser dashboard cameras and AEDs in every police cruiser
- Expansion of forensic lab capabilities to expedite blood alcohol and drug testing
Mayor Jack Poll praised Holt’s work to balance the budget and expressed enthusiasm and appreciation for the recent investments that indicate improvement in the City’s economic situation.
“Curtis Holt and City employees give 110 percent to Wyoming,” Poll said. “Their dedication and creativity have allowed us to find innovative ways to keep the City performing efficiently. These efforts are paying off and Wyoming is coming out even better than we expected.
“I also appreciate that the businesses that operate in Wyoming have recognized our efforts to accommodate their needs and to help them take advantage of opportunities when presented. The City Council and I are proud to support this type of continued investment in Wyoming and value such participation that will continue our City’s growth and success.”
For further information, contact the city manager’s office at 530-7272 or visit the City website at www.wyomingmi.gov.
