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 until the 2026 tax year because the township did not own the bridge on Dec. 30, 2024.

The presentation listed near-term items staff will pursue: issuing RFPs for a staffing and operations-and-maintenance contractor, evaluating a two-month free-bridge closure for county work, and accounting for depreciation on the bridge (the township applied a 50-year useful life following state guidance). Derek, the township manager, said the bridge enterprise fund will receive its own budget line starting April 1 and that a number of one-time bond-proceeds flows in 2024 affect the appearance of 2025 numbers.

Nut graf: The township is moving quickly to set up an enterprise fund and procurement process for the bridge after bond funding and a scheduled closing; staff emphasized that many assumptions are provisional and that budget amendments will follow as RFP responses and operational plans materialize.

Supporting details and context - Bond proceeds: About $21.8 million received Feb. 13; roughly $13.9 million slated for purchase, $7.5 million for subsequent-year work. - Millage and taxes: Proposed bridge-related millage for 2025 listed at 1.6745 mills (first-year estimate within ballot-range minimum). The township said the bridge will remain subject to property taxes for 2025 because the township did not own it on Dec. 30, 2024. - Operating assumptions: Staff estimated about $6.0 million in revenue and about $3.5 million in expenses for the first operating year after removing one-time bond flows. The fiscal-year projections will be refined with vendor proposals and staffing costs. - Administration and customer accounts: Staff said existing bridge passes and account balances will be migrated; residents will be asked to re-enter account details and sign an authorization that allows the township to bill their cards (existing prepayments and tag balances will transfer). The township plans a kiosk at Township Hall to assist residents without internet access.

Board and public questions Trustees asked how commercial rates, bridge passes and credit-card authorizations would be handled. Staff said the township has posted toll rates consistent with the previous operator and that an online module and a Township Hall kiosk will help residents transfer accounts. Derek cautioned that some technical work remains to make the card/authorization transfer seamless.

Ending: Staff said RFPs for operations and cell-tower leases (a separate procurement) are in process and that the board will see further budget amendments and contract recommendations as proposals arrive.