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Charter commission, CFO review Article 7 of Lansing charter on budget, taxes and borrowing
Summary
The Lansing City Charter Commission reviewed Article 7 line-by-line with City Treasurer and CFO Crystal Thomas, approving most subsections, debating procedural items such as timing of council budget hearings, supplemental appropriations, debt limits, facsimile signatures and special-assessment rules, and requesting follow-up research from staff.
The Lansing City Charter Commission held a section-by-section review of Article 7 (budget, taxation, borrowing and special assessments) at its May 13, 2025 meeting, with City Treasurer and newly appointed chief financial officer Crystal Thomas present to confirm current city practices and answer commissioners' questions.
Commissioners voted to approve most subsections of Article 7 as written but flagged several areas for clarification or amendment, including the timing of council budget hearings, the fixed dollar threshold for supplemental appropriations, procedures for reversion and reporting of transfers, the use of facsimile (auto-pen) signatures on bond interest coupons and confirmation and voting thresholds for special assessments.
Thomas, who said she had been CFO for six weeks, walked commissioners through budget submission rules, the budget message content, bonds and debt sections, and tax and assessor duties. The commission confirmed that the mayor still submits a budget and that…
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