Rochester Hills presents $185 million proposed 2025 budget with $30M in capital projects, no city millage increase

Rochester Hills officials on Aug. 19 unveiled a three‑year proposed budget that would set 2025 expenditures at roughly $185 million while preserving a structural operating surplus and funding a $30 million capital program.

Mayor Barnett opened the city’s budget presentation by praising the administration‑council partnership and introducing the finance team; City CFO Mr Snider outlined the plan and the numbers. "The fiscal year 2025 budget proposes $185 million in expenditures," Mr Snider said, noting the total represents a 24 percent decrease from the 2024 budget largely because fewer large capital projects are proposed for next year.

Why it matters: the plan combines conservative revenue estimates, a proposed 11 percent draw from fund balance to support capital needs and a long‑term fund balance policy that phases the general fund target down from 80 percent to 35 percent over three years. Mr Snider told council that the capital program focuses on transportation, water and public safety: "Major categories include public service (roads, stormwater, water/sewer), public safety and capital outlay," he said.

Key provisions and projects: - Capital: $30 million proposed in 2025 for major and local street work, water/sewer projects (including the University Hills water main replacement), park and facility projects, and fire equipment replacements. Mr Snider highlighted Brewster Road rehabilitation, a traffic signal upgrade at Technology Drive and Auburn and Edington Boulevard reconstruction as among the largest road projects. - Operating: the general fund is proposed at $35 million and includes one new full‑time parks deputy director position to implement the parks strategic plan. - Public safety: the budget proposes funding for fire capital (SCBA replacements, cardiac monitors, a community risk reduction vehicle) and a police plan that includes adding two Oakland County Sheriff's officers to support patrol and investigative capacity. - Revenues and taxes: the city proposes no change to its millage rate for 2025; overall millage will rise by 0.39 mills only because voters approved a library millage on Aug. 6.

Council members asked for details on several items, including how long pathway and road assets will last under current funding levels, the mechanics of the fund balance policy and whether some future millage renewals (for pathways, for example) might need to be advanced to voters. In response, administration officials said the pathway millage remains in place through 2026 and that pathway rehab needs (roughly $400,000–$500,000 per mile) exceed the current pace of replacement across a 100‑mile network.

Next steps: the administration will publish the budget Q&A responses, hold a public hearing on Sept. 9 and seek council approval on Sept. 23. The proposal is a starting point for final council action and possible amendments.

Reporting note: numbers and project lists are drawn from the administration’s presentation to City Council on Aug. 19. Where the presentation cited policy names (for example, the updated governmental fund balance policy and Act 51 gasoline tax receipts), the article uses those names as stated to preserve attribution and avoid inference.