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Mount Clemens commission approves 2021 annual budget, boosts street and fire spending
Summary
The Mount Clemens City Commission approved the annual budget and three companion resolutions, adding funding for a fire inspector and increasing major and local street budgets while adjusting CARES/DiRide figures and revising the fund-balance policy.
The Mount Clemens City Commission voted to approve the city’s annual budget and three related resolutions — setting tax rates, establishing tax-administration fees and penalties, and adopting revised financial policies — after staff described several adjustments to the manager’s recommendation.
The city manager, identified in the meeting transcript as Mr. Johnson, told commissioners the commission had added $102,867 to the fire department budget to fund a fire inspector and “ancillary expenses,” removed $101,000 from the recreation budget, and increased the major-street and local-street funds by $477,677 and $366,677 respectively to support street improvements and two additional street workers. Mr. Johnson also said the administration adjusted projected CARES/DiRide funding from $160,000 to $138,000 to reflect funds already received.
The changes drew questions from commissioners about reported deficits in several funds. One commissioner asked why a major-street deficit remained despite added allocations; Mr. Johnson answered that the increases were additional expenditures and that no new revenues had been added beyond the manager’s recommendation. He also explained recent guidance on federal recovery funding: certain American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) infrastructure uses are limited to water, sewer and broadband, and that lost-parking revenue replacement may be an allowable use in some cases.
Commissioners discussed a revision to the fund-balance policy that replaces references to “budgeted expenditures” with audited actual expenditures for formula calculations. After discussion, the commission moved each of the four resolutions by roll call and approved them.
The budget vote followed multiple public hearings and three budget work sessions, staff said. The commission’s approval allows the city to move forward with the increased street work, the addition to fire staffing, and the updated financial policies. The commission also directed staff to continue providing clarity on the use of federal recovery funds and to return with any required follow-up information.
The commission then moved on to other agenda items, including agreements with Michigan Works and Macomb County. The budget and companion resolutions were adopted during the meeting; the clerk recorded the roll-call results.
