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Manistee council reviews 2026-27 budget; staff propose one firefighter and two seasonal parks cuts
Summary
City Manager Bill Gambill and Finance Director Ed Bradford presented the proposed 2026-27 budget at the April 14 study session, identifying revenue pressures, possible Headlee/rollbacks, and a suggested reduction of one full-time firefighter and two seasonal DPW parks positions as cost-saving measures.
At the April 14, 2026 Manistee City Council study session, City Manager Bill Gambill and Finance Director Ed Bradford led a detailed review of issues shaping the proposed 2026-27 budget. Bradford outlined general fund revenue projections and identified both near-term and structural pressures, including arrears on oil and gas lease payments and recurring costs such as software and copier maintenance.
Councilors were briefed on a range of considerations: funding received for a mental health officer; pending Clerk's Department staffing changes tied to an upcoming retirement; debt-service and water-main obligations; the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) budget and the Downtown Dollars program; and the relative costs of city wages versus contracting. Bradford highlighted recurring vendor and license costs (BS&A, Microsoft, Adobe and copier leases) and identified Spicer engineering costs and computer-server purchases as capital items requiring attention.
Staff discussed workforce and service-level implications and proposed personnel reductions as part of cost-savings options: the elimination of one full-time Fire Department firefighter position and two seasonal Department of Public Works parks positions. The minutes record these as proposed reductions to address budget shortfalls; no formal motion or vote is recorded.
Councilors also discussed external revenue uncertainty (state revenue sharing and potential Headlee rollbacks/overrides) and rising expense drivers such as inflation, retirement contributions to MERS, and health-insurance costs. Staff noted PEG costs and that many capital outlays are statutory obligations limiting discretionary choices. Bradford said he is updating forward-looking financials to refine the city's budget outlook.
Other items flagged for follow-up included crossing-guard coverage and a Safety/Gap Study, ready-to-serve fees set by a rate sufficiency study, fire-district planning and a proposed funding formula to include surrounding townships, and an opportunity to pursue grants if the Fire House listing on the National Historic Registry is finalized. The minutes do not list vote tallies, dollar amounts for proposed reductions, or final funding sources; those details were left for subsequent staff work and future meetings.
