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Saint Charles council reviews $5.4 million draft budget, adopts state-paid‑leave poster and approves park events
Summary
At a budget workshop, Village of Saint Charles officials reviewed the draft FY 2025–26 budget of about $5.4 million, discussed wage and capital priorities including water and sewer projects, adopted a state-required paid‑leave poster, approved multiple park events and moved municipal savings into a higher-yield money‑market account.
The Village of Saint Charles council reviewed a draft fiscal year 2025–26 budget totaling about $5.4 million during a budget workshop and approved a set of routine actions including the adoption of a state-mandated paid-medical-leave poster and several park event permits.
Speaker 2 introduced the budget as "the draft fiscal year 2526 budget, totaling over $5,400,000," and described a general fund of $2,226,946. The presenter said the village is carrying roughly $54,211 in unpaid property taxes that are not expected from the county until June and noted a projected $1,000,000 congressional appropriation to support water‑system work.
Why it matters: the budget lays out wages, benefit changes and capital projects that officials said are intended to help the village compete for employees and address infrastructure needs. Councilors pressed staff on conference funding, compensation for grant‑writing and the distribution of wage increases across departments. One councilor suggested compensating staff who secure grants; Speaker 2 agreed to draft options for the March meeting.
Key details: officials said recent wage and benefits adjustments were informed by a 2024 Michigan Municipal League survey; pension funding was described as improved (from about 59% to roughly 75% funded), and OPEB contribution rates have been increased. The council discussed capital priorities in a six‑year plan, including a Fulton–Hosmer water project, planned sewer work (roughly $1.3 million estimated for 2027) and sidewalk and safe‑routes projects tied to potential state Category B grant funding. Speaker 2 said the TMF bid opening will locate service lines and help prioritize lead or galvanized line replacements.
Formal actions: the council approved a packet resolution to post a state-required employee notice under the Paid Medical Leave Act (the resolution packet was introduced as item 25-2 and was later referenced in discussion as '254'); Speaker 4 moved the resolution and a roll-call vote recorded the motion as approved with one member absent. The council also voted to accept the Saint Charles Hometown Days special-permit application for pavilion use and to permit food trucks for a proposed first annual fishing tournament and the Saginaw County "Be Well" community walk on June 26. In financial housekeeping, the council approved closing a low-yield savings account at Mercantile Bank and moving funds to a money-market account yielding a materially higher rate.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution adopting employee poster under the Paid Medical Leave Act (packet item listed as 25-2 / motion referenced as '254'): mover Speaker 4; outcome: approved by roll call; Paul Jenderski recorded absent; remaining members recorded affirmative responses in the roll call. - Saint Charles Hometown Days special-permit application (pavilion use, parks committee review): mover Speaker 1; outcome: approved by voice vote; at least one member voiced opposition. - First annual fishing tournament (food-truck approval): mover Speaker 4; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Be Well community walk (June 26): mover Speaker 4; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Close Mercantile savings account and transfer funds to a Mercantile money-market account: mover Speaker 4; outcome: approved by roll call; all present members voted yes; Paul Jenderski absent.
Councilors also discussed a proposed approach to recognize the village staff member credited with securing grant funding. Speaker 4 asked whether the council could include additional compensation tied to grant activity; Speaker 2 said she would draft options and comparative figures for the March meeting.
The workshop included extended discussion of personnel and retention strategies (wage steps, benefit packages) aimed at keeping police and DPW staffing competitive with neighboring communities. Speaker 2 emphasized that some increases are driven by health‑care and pension cost changes and by a younger roster of employees that lowers overall health costs.
The meeting closed after routine business and a motion to adjourn.
