Grosse Ile forecasts first-year budget and operations after planned toll-bridge purchase

Grosse Ile Township staff told the board they expect to close on the purchase of the Wayne County toll bridge on March 31 and presented a preliminary enterprise-fund budget and operational plan for the bridge's first year under township ownership.

Theresa McLaughlin said the township received bond proceeds of about $21.8 million on Feb. 13. Of that total, roughly $13.9 million will be used to buy the bridge at closing and about $7.5 million will be available for follow-on engineering and capital work the next year. Excluding the one-time use of those proceeds, staff estimated first-year (2526) operating revenue at about $6.0 million and operating expenses at about $3.5 million. The budget also reflects a 1.6745-mill property-tax levy in the range shown on ballot material for 2025; staff said property-tax exemption for the bridge will not apply…