Alma City holds public hearing on proposed FY2026 budget, outlines millage rates and capital projects

The Alma City Commission held a public hearing on May 13, 2025, to review the proposed fiscal year 2026 city budget and related property tax millages and then closed the hearing after public questions.

City staff presented proposed millages that would fund general operations and specific functions: a proposed general-fund millage of 14.2244 mills; a transportation millage of 0.8 mills (unchanged from the prior year); a Voda Street millage of 3.5 mills; a library millage under Public Act 164 of 0.9874 mills (applied citywide); and a Downtown Development Authority millage of 1.9467 mills within the DDA district. The staff presentation said the proposed general fund budget would total $6,275,000 in both estimated revenues and expenditures.

The staff overview broke the general-fund expenditures into functional totals: community development (economic development, downtown maintenance, planning and zoning) at $225,000; community safety (police, fire board contribution, public safety inspection) at $2,902,000; property maintenance (buildings/grounds and Riverside Cemetery) at $465,000; transportation-related…