[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6062724,"mediaKeyId","3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28","parentId",3276016,"title","Southmore property purchase and DNR grant discussed; council weighs match, timing and future maintenance","audioSeconds",688,"startMs",1565000,"endMs",2253000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28&start=1565&end=2253","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28/thumbnail_1565000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062724/Burton/Genesee-County/Michigan/Southmore-property-purchase-and-DNR-grant-discussed-council-weighs-match-timing-and-future-maintenance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062724-3ab30ad62e124f29b89108a67c5ca02a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775090249&Signature=CBiIL4Kupy9E-huUj76DkMxoOYDxKDjj225AqwtqqWT3Ah4bZMeif~jxZW858bxEyeOeLdRFwLkOAqgegGGCSwTMnhfTAoj03B0eVKL8K~HS6Tp74zaAkbuWZPo49AYCQYAQ5CjT5bZMh0sapF8t5MxwLS4Wk2xo7hAvI1KjQEsLrDAwMTHfTamqQvaoOwMTdWcLwLlOjIRS56T5i618OfFNiALWiNDwuAlsnbhWUC8W1CrSJb7D1G4QegQ6EU4Yx-4z80SOzny1Iu0tXgk0F-BkY1dRLux2j59lx6fyQpNmWNz6TQEaWojT2Pf53h2oDORAKk1~3iIgHuJ-i9u27Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burton, MI ","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Councilmembers and staff spent an extended portion of the budget workshop on the possible acquisition of the Southmore property and an associated Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant.

Staff described a potential DNR grant of $1,275,000 for purchase of the site and explained the city must provide a 25% match. Councilmembers noted the budget currently includes a $450,000 line item for that match (the figure shown in the proposed budget represents the local match component the council previously approved to apply for the grant). Staff emphasized that the matching funds are for purchase only and that additional funding for demolition, maintenance and future improvements would be required later if the city completes the acquisition.

Officials discussed timing and uncertainty. Staff said the grant appropriations must flow through the state appropriation process and that the DNR’s own evaluation, the legislature’s appropriations and the governor’s signature affect timing; staff described December as a latest‑seen example for similar grants but cautioned dates are not guaranteed. Councilmembers asked whether the city would receive the DNR funds as a direct check deposited to the city and were told the grant would be deposited and then the city would disburse its portion as part of the purchase process.

Councilmembers debated whether to set aside additional funds now for future demolition and site work or wait until the grant and closing are finalized. Staff noted the property is not yet owned and key approvals remain outstanding; they recommended keeping the match funding in the budget but deferring additional improvement spending until after the grant and purchase are certain. Several councilmembers said they were comfortable keeping contingency within the general fund and returning later with a budget amendment if the DNR grant and purchase close.

The Parks and Recreation discussion also covered priorities such as field maintenance and Burton Youth League needs. Coaches and councilmembers raised the prospect of purchasing pitching machines and improving practice capacity; staff said they will pilot borrowing neighboring league equipment and consider a future budget amendment for durable machines if needed.

No final acquisition decision or appropriation beyond the match was made at the workshop; staff and council agree multiple state approvals remain and the city will revisit capital needs after grant confirmation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Meeting\tMay 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers and staff reviewed the proposed DNR grant for the former Southmore Golf Course, the required 25% local match, uncertain grant timing, and potential future maintenance and demolition costs if the city acquires the property.","taxTitle","Burton, Genesee County, Michigan","taxId",55651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062728,"City review finds Blue Cross Blue Shield lowest health‑insurance increase for municipal plan",54,522000,576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28&start=522&end=576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28/thumbnail_522000.jpg","/articles/6062728/Burton/Genesee-County/Michigan/City-review-finds-Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield-lowest-healthinsurance-increase-for-municipal-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062728-6a1fa891dd693df0b5a63556a0fed7bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775090249&Signature=UCwrGCkfere6sscU~tzrSL8PUnMXKm8SECSMVM-Z03cnoAO98cHbmT9tgI-XT3H5vUCKW0DCdEw7MYMJABUWHOwBEJgObNYEMNAfpDSYhlDwLT1rUIYUNaKJH8x56RMscQvD6sn9~OEwbS9kgM7vH5eg3XhEaAmiiqUQIwJL4xhgZOfvAGPukRxYqaxxBLWVOOHk1MXMEIjBjwiv05RCHlirWW6dtd-~1HtVvyVNuc-KXgc3FVCWZnecWTR-ZH9UGqKmfEzSTkQmzJKoOwnL1iBL2eNwyuICHwco8rjcUZYXKU4W7tybvwif8HonkWA9onb22TxkfyIE8N7PurQpkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the budget workshop Brandy, finance staff, told council members the city solicited proposals for employee health coverage and compared three offers.

Brandy reported HAP’s proposal was 16.5% higher than last year, Priority Health’s was 10.5% higher and Blue Cross Blue Shield’s proposal showed the lowest increase at 7.3% from the prior year. She said administrators view Blue Cross Blue Shield as the most cost‑effective option for the level of benefits the city offers and that the city will continue to monitor costs.

Councilmembers had no formal vote during the workshop on the insurer selection; the presentation was part of the budget review and the administration indicated it will track costs and report back as needed.","City finance staff presented three competitive health insurance proposals and reported Blue Cross Blue Shield had the lowest premium increase compared with HAP and Priority Health.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062731,"Burton budget workshop shows tighter fund balance after major road spending; MERS funding, mosquito abatement added",2481,305000,2786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28&start=305&end=2786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276016-4b5778003cae949ae957527e25aafa28/thumbnail_305000.jpg","/articles/6062731/Burton/Genesee-County/Michigan/Burton-budget-workshop-shows-tighter-fund-balance-after-major-road-spending-MERS-funding-mosquito-abatement-added","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062731-30870575dfa0efbf4688176e25a43310/orig.mp4?Expires=1775090249&Signature=Ui~G8aUl0Mz7eNgqji-f6dY7W1pEi6Qtxt1zhLpt5o61kGz9wbwVT-oSpvEgPywjkWnsmrBBFJbAhPj71R9WZbPp~nKUSnQ5mEDWTpXb0T98lVHuejwC0wIr8qaNQKyUslvrNcdwWh~gBZFVdu5v9cl1NMBY-c8xZdc5-CwSQaWZIVhNVRdWK66wRAPYMoIZhLlhPluzZzrCNZh-BXs3vkRXTPbqQEG09mDOtYZHKcMwHprCtBWRcnEk1RWEUHLVI9CD0iZlirr9XwDm64MZPny6khwF-s3Muqhj~XE7FgKi5UP8yTSu4h4i8JWUE85~4Nx~jlAz~6eieA2DU62UkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brandy, finance staff, presented the Burton proposed budget at a budget workshop and said the city’s general fund balance is lower after recent road projects and that officials are recommending an additional contribution to shore up the municipal pension plan.

The presentation showed roughly $2,200,000 drawn from the general fund in the past two years to pay the city’s share of road improvements and a proposed fund balance floor of $888,146. Brandy said the budget proposal assumes continued road spending and that the administration built the lower buffer into the plan.

Brandy also reviewed the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS) actuarial situation. “Our total plan has reached a 65% funding level,” she said, adding that the city expects the 12/31/2024 MERS report in the coming weeks and is recommending contributing an additional $1,000,000 beyond required payments to protect the plan from market volatility.

On operating lines, Brandy told council members that Blue Cross Blue Shield was the most cost‑effective health insurer option presented (see separate coverage). She also noted a requested postage adjustment for the treasurer’s office from $15,000 to $16,000 after expenditures exceeded the earlier line.

The proposed budget adds a mosquito abatement line of $161,700; that estimate was added after the proposed budget was published and will be included in the final budget. With the mosquito abatement line added and a $1,000 addition for treasurer mailers included, Brandy reported the new projected general fund ending balance at $1,573,874.

Councilmembers asked for context. Councilmember discussion emphasized that the recent road spending had been substantial and raised questions about sustaining that level of investment without eroding reserves. Brandy and others said many capital items are already included in the budget and that unused capital purchases would revert to fund balance if not spent.

No formal motions or votes were recorded during the workshop; the meeting concluded with a schedule to continue departmental reviews at a follow‑up session.","City finance staff presented a proposed budget that reflects heavy recent road spending, a plan to increase pension contributions, a small increase to the general fund ending balance and new line items including mosquito abatement and postage adjustments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Southmore property purchase and DNR grant discussed; council weighs match, timing and future maintenance

City review finds Blue Cross Blue Shield lowest health‑insurance increase for municipal plan

Burton budget workshop shows tighter fund balance after major road spending; MERS funding, mosquito abatement added