Commission approves first-quarter FY2025 budget amendments and places delinquent bills on winter tax roll

The Mount Clemens City Commission approved a series of fiscal items during the meeting, including first-quarter amendments to the FY2025 budget and the placement of delinquent bills on the city’s winter tax roll.

City Manager Shippen presented recommended amendments affecting the General Fund, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) fund and the Sewer Fund. Shippen said the General Fund amendment reduces fund balance by approximately $75,000, largely to cover increased expenditures including an approved contract increase for the county sheriff. The DDA budget will reflect a $25,000 contribution for the Cherry Street Mall project offset by $25,000 in other DDA reductions, producing no net effect on the DDA fund balance, staff said. For the Sewer Fund, Shippen said the amendment reduces net position by about $213,000 to account for sewer cleaning and CCTV investigations; staff said that reduction will be covered by assumptions in the water‑sewer rate study.

Danielle from the finance team said there were just three items in the first-quarter amendment and that larger amendments could follow later in the fiscal year as more financial data becomes available.

Separately, staff presented Special Assessment Roll 24‑04 for delinquent utility bills in the amount of $25,195.06 and Special Assessment Roll 24‑05 for delinquent general bills totaling $90,478.52 for placement on the winter tax roll. Staff provided a line-by-line breakdown cited in the report: delinquent sidewalk charges of $13.37; delinquent weed cutting of $11,476.52; vacant registration debt of $58,500; rental registration debt of $6,003.25; and delinquent enforcement charges totaling $12,008.40. Staff said a 15% transfer fee will apply to delinquent billings except sidewalk invoices, and described the typical process for moving unpaid accounts to the tax roll.

Commissioners asked whether most delinquent accounts are commercial or residential, how long accounts have been delinquent, and how permit revenue and permit‑administration fees are reflected; staff answered that many delinquent accounts are rental properties and that accounting treatment varies with third‑party permit administration.

Both the budget amendments and the special-assessment rolls were approved by roll‑call votes.

Next steps: staff to implement amendments in accounting records and proceed with placement of delinquent accounts on the winter tax roll for collection.