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City staff outlines $2.5 million local-streets plan and discusses a possible road millage
Summary
City staff told the Bay City City Commission it can use $2.5 million of a $5.0 million local account for targeted street projects, and outlined a proposed local millage that would raise about $150,000 per mill annually; commissioners asked for clearer spending language, ward-level project lists and ballot timing analysis.
City staff presented a plan on July 20 to use $2.5 million of a $5.0 million UBP/UPP account to fund local street projects and to seed a sidewalk fund, and recommended the commission consider placing a local road millage on a future ballot to generate recurring revenue.
The presenter listed candidate projects including JFK Drive (Henry Street to the Betts Park concession entrance), North Monroe Street (McKinley to Center), Germania Street (East Monday to Main), Franklin Street (14th to 16th) and 15th Street (Franklin to Garfield). Staff said project selection would be scored by factors such as annual average daily traffic, probability of infrastructure failure, proximity to major routes and HUD census tracts that can leverage additional funding. “One mill generated approximately a $150,000 per year, costing the resident about $100 per $100,000 taxable value,” the presenter said, noting paving costs vary widely by condition and underground work.
Why it matters: Bay City has limited dedicated local road funding and commissioners said voters want clear, itemized promises before they will back a tax increase. Commissioners pressed staff for ward-by-ward project examples and asked whether the city would bond for projects; staff said the intention is to use millage proceeds as accrued rather than issue new bonds.
Commissioners asked several procedural and policy questions. Commissioner Tenney asked whether the measure could be moved to the fall ballot; the city manager said staff could place it on several potential ballots but recommended a committee decide the timing and final ballot language to maximize voter support. Commissioner DeWitt asked about median taxable home value citywide (staff said about $100,000) and confirmed staff’s preference to avoid bonding. Commissioner Coakley emphasized the need for transparent, “black-and-white” spending promises so voters know exactly how proceeds will be used.
Next steps: staff proposed a roadway infrastructure committee (commissioners, city manager, citizens, DPW staff) to meet quarterly to review priorities and recommend a millage amount and ballot language. Commissioners asked staff to prepare scenarios showing what 1 mill versus 2 mills could accomplish to support outreach and marketing.
Public comment during the meeting included praise for prioritizing public safety and skepticism about repeated requests for new revenues; several residents urged clarity about where the money would be spent. The commission did not set a millage amount or ballot date; it asked staff and the infrastructure committee to return with refined project lists, cost estimates and recommendations for public engagement.
