The plan includes $690 million worth of spending across all funds, an increase of 7.1% from the 2024 budget. Just over $186 million will go toward the General Operating Fund, an increase of 4.2% over last year’s budget.
The increases are driven by goods and services price increases, as well as competitive wage and benefit increases negotiated in 2023 labor agreements.
Despite this, the property tax millage rate will fall by 0.1%.
The budget will continue funding utilities, roads, and buildings, as well as the transformation of the Grand River corridor. It will also pay for the relocation of City Services to Scribner Avenue from 201 Market Avenue, the future site of the Acrisure Amphitheater.
$32 million is set aside for street and sidewalk improvements. The city is increasing special event parking rates from $15 to $25 and extending weekday metered parking hours until 7 p.m.
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said she thinks the budget does a good job of accounting for what’s important to residents.
“I do think it captures a lot of our priorities that we talked about during our strategic planning workshops and it not only supports a lot of the good initiatives we’re already doing, it builds on those.”
You can view the entire budget at the City of Grand Rapids here: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Departments/Budget-Office
