City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

April 27, 2009

 

Council met in special workshop session in City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 PM.

 

1.       Present at roll call were members:  Campbell, Jasperse, McIntyre, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

         

          Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to excuse Member Bowers.

          All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

2.       City Staff and Appointees present: Mansfield, Emery, Sarver, Caris, Girrbach, Hart, Holzwarth, and Timmerman.

 

3.       City Manager Mansfield introduced discussion of the 2009/2010 budget.  Mansfield thanked the Department Heads and Tom Emery for their work in developing the draft budget document.  He stated that the budgeted ending fund balance in the General Fund was projected to be about $673,000, above the Council’s policy objective of $500,000.  A capital projects reserve was created from the proceeds of the sale of the Incubator; this is in addition to the $673,000.  Mansfield stated that the budget includes providing the same services with the same staffing as the prior year.  Wages are increased by 2% for all employees.  Property tax revenue is estimated to increase by 3% as most taxable values are still below assessed values.  The budget assumes a 10% decrease in General Fund State revenue sharing.  In the future, issues facing the City’s budget will include MERS pension contributions increasing due to market investment performance and recognition of the City’s OPEB obligations, in addition to the continuing issues of increasing costs for health insurance for employees and retirees.

 

4.       Mansfield presented the budget section on General Fund revenues and fund balance and each department head presented their areas of the budget, highlighting changes from the prior year.

 

5.       Members of the City Council asked clarifying questions.

 

          Campbell suggested a 5-year street maintenance plan.

          McNabb-Stange asked about CIP versus Revenue Expense Budget document.

          McNabb-Stange and Wood expressed concern about future General Fund deficit.

          McNabb-Stange asked about DDA downtown art.

 

6.       There were no comments from the public.

 

7.       Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to adjourn at 7:19 PM.

 

8.       Read and Approved:

 

          ________________________                                      _______________________

          Robert L. May, Mayor                                                          Thomas E. Emery, City Clerk