Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Holland City Council sets May 14 public hearing on FY2026 budget, approves consent agenda and appointments
Summary
On April 16, 2025, the Holland City Council voted to set a May 14 public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, approved a routine consent agenda in one motion, and confirmed several appointments. Finance staff said the budget uses $305,300 from budget stabilization and emphasized a theme of financial and organizational stability.
HOLLAND, Mich. — The Holland City Council on April 16 voted to set a public hearing for May 14, 2025, on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and approved the evening’s consent agenda and several mayoral and council appointments.
Finance director and city staff briefed council that the FY2026 proposal will be examined in greater detail over two study sessions and at the scheduled public hearing. City Manager Van Beek, who presented highlights to the council, said the administration recommends a theme of “financial and organizational stability” and disclosed a planned use of $305,300 from budget stabilization to balance the books. Van Beek said the city prepared a 12-page “budget in brief” and more than 500 pages of supporting attachments for public review on the city website.
The council approved the consent agenda — a single motion that included items such as approval of minutes, oaths of office, a tax abatement for Coops Incorporated, grant of utility easements for the Holland City Fiber Project, declaration of surplus material from the Board of Public Works, collective bargaining agreement renewal effective April 1, 2025, annual liquor-license renewals, and scheduling a public hearing on the 2025–2030 CDBG consolidated plan — without debate.
During public comment ahead of the vote, resident Ruth Stegman urged the council to fund tree planting in the FY2026 budget, pointing to the budget’s performance measures and a line showing a projected 200 trees for both the remainder of 2025 and for 2026. “I simply ask that you provide the funding needed to pay for at least those 200 trees that are named in the budget,” Stegman said.
The council also approved a mayoral appointment of Nathan Slower to the Neighborhood Improvement Committee (term to 06/30/2025) and confirmed two alternates — George Benitez and David Bauer — to the Board of Public Appeals, and recorded the removal of Haley Savalo from that board effective Oct. 1, 2024. A written communication submitted between meetings was accepted into the record.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (approve all listed consent items in one motion): Moved by Councilmember Freeman; second by Councilmember Sole; roll-call vote recorded as all present voting yes. Outcome: approved. - Set public hearing on FY2026 budget for May 14, 2025: Moved by Councilmember Scholteis; supported by Councilmember Sowell; roll-call recorded as Freeman, Raymond, Corbin, Sowell, Rowan, Shea, Scholteis and Mayor Bocks voting yes. Outcome: approved (public hearing set). - Accept written communication into the record: Moved by (record: “Bert”); supported by Councilmember Sole; voice vote, outcome approved. - Appoint Nathan Slower to Neighborhood Improvement Committee (term exp. 06/30/2025): Moved by Raymond; support by Freeman; voice vote, outcome approved. - Appoint George Benitez and David Bauer as alternates to the Board of Public Appeals and remove Haley Savalo (effective 10/01/2024): Moved by Rowan; support by Soul; voice vote, outcome approved. - Adjournment: voice vote, outcome approved.
What happens next: Council will review the budget in scheduled study sessions immediately following the meeting and will take public comment at the May 14 hearing before any final action. The budget documents and the 12-page “budget in brief” were posted on the city website, and staff encouraged the public to consult attachments for full details.
