The City of Grand Rapids unveiled its fiscal year 2024 budget proposal on Tuesday. The city says the $643 million budget aligns with its strategic goals.
The $643 million budget includes $179 million in the city’s General Fund.
While the proposal doesn’t include an increase in property tax millages, there is an overall millage rate increase of 0.1994 over FY2023. According to the city, the increase is expected to cost the average homeowner $5.33 more per month.
The city says funds generated from the increase will go toward proposed clean community initiatives that includes refuse and recycling.
City Manager Mark Washington says the proposal continues investments aligned with the city’s values.
“This budget is built on our strategic priorities in focus and making sure that we hold our values dearly in terms of a decision-making process,” he said during anApril 24 Committee of the Whole meeting.
The six priories include Governmental Excellence, Economic Prosperity and Affordability, Engaged and Connected Community, Health and Environment, Mobility, and Safe Community.
A bulk of the budget proposal has been allocated to Health and Environment with an appropriation of $201 million. This includes nearly $19 million in Park and Park amenities improvements for Martin Luther King Lodge, Roosevelt Lodge, Plaza Roosevelt, and several other parks.
Other investments include $16 million to remediate PFAS contamination at the Ash Lagoon and $1.8 million for the city's Lead Hazard Control Program.
The city is also allocating $27 million for greenhouse gas and carbon emission mitigation and climate adaptation.
Nearly $140 million has been appropriated under the city’s Safe Community priority. This includes a $3 million investment to purchase land for a future Fire Training center. It also includes $1.3 million for two GVSU Police Academy recruit classes and will help support third-party recruiting services that the city says will improve police staffing and responsiveness.
The city will hold at least three more public meetings reviewing the proposal before adopting the budget on May 23rd. The fiscal year will begin on July 1st.
Meeting Schedule:
Tuesday, May 2: Budget Review Workshop, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, May 9: City Commission Committee of the Whole, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, May 16: Budget Review Workshop, 9 a.m. – IF NEEDED
Tuesday, May 23: Budget Discussion and Deliberation (COW 10 a.m.)
Tuesday, May 23: City Commission Adoption (7 p.m.)