Mount Clemens opens public hearing on 2016–17 budget as residents press for more sidewalk funding

The Mount Clemens City Commission opened a public hearing on the proposed 2016–17 fiscal‑year budget on May 2, 2016, with staff presenting a total citywide millage proposed at 22.1274 mills and a Downtown Development Authority district millage of 1.6132 mills. The hearing gave residents an opportunity to weigh in before the commission considers final adoption.

Why it matters: The budget sets property‑tax levies and spending priorities for core services, capital projects and downtown redevelopment. Several residents used the public hearing to press the commission for more funding for sidewalks and to challenge the continued use of TIF (tax increment financing) dollars for downtown projects.

During public comment, resident Laura Forier said she has paid to replace sidewalks on multiple corners and criticized recent work on Church Street that removed newer concrete: “I have personally paid for sidewalks on three corners of that street … and then they came down the street and they took out every single corner — three of them mine — all brand new within the last few years.” Forier asked whether privately funded repairs could be undone by future city projects.

City staff responded that the Church Street work was done with federal grant funds and must meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards, which can require replacing existing concrete to achieve the required ramp slope and geometry. The staff explanation said federal funding and ADA compliance drove the need to bring ramps up to current specifications.

Resident Gloria Howard criticized continued TIF allocations to downtown projects and urged commissioners to remove TIF spending from the budget, saying returning funds to taxpayers would be preferable. The concern over TIF echoed other residents’ calls for more visible street and sidewalk repairs in neighborhoods.

Other comments during the hearing asked for the proposed budget to be posted immediately online for easier public review and requested clearer explanations of how millage changes would affect individual tax bills. A resident also asked for the commission’s formula showing how the proposed rate translates to homeowner impact.

Next steps: The hearing was closed by motion and roll call. Commissioners discussed the makeup of the 22.1274 mills and said the proposed total rate matches the current level; they noted Headlee rollback mechanics were not triggered by current property valuations. The commission will continue budget deliberations at future meetings and consider adoption after required notices and further review.