City Budget Hearing Draws Few Despite Controversial Cuts Proposed

hosted a lightly attended public hearing Thursday night to hear reactions and get input from residents on the city's proposed 2011-12 budget.

Six-year projections show that the city could potentially lose more than $1 million in revenues in the next two years due to declining property values — and they don't show a turnaround in overall revenues until the 2016-17 fiscal year, said City Manager Dana Foster.

The City Council has generated savings in recent years by reducing overtime, restructuring health care and eliminating positions through attrition. As a result, the city has reduced personnel and labor costs by more than $2 million during the past three years. The city also has saved $340,000 in the past three years by requiring employees to take one day off each month without pay. Foster said these steps were necessary to keep the city from being in a cash deficit.

But as property values continue to decline, Foster and the City Council have found ways to cut costs and to generate revenue to balance the 2011-12 budget.

A 50 percent reduction in contributions to the is proposed to bring Brighton's contributions closer to the average contribution of surrounding communities. 

As of now, the city of Brighton pays $3.82 per resident to SELCRA, compared with Brighton Township, which pays $3.11 and Green Oak Township, which pays $1.93, according to Mayor Pro Tem Jim Bohn.

Bohn said that even if the city was to cut its contribution to SELCRA by 50 percent, Brighton would still be contributing more than Green Oak Township.

The city plans to generate revenue by beginning to charge residents a maximum trash pickup fee. If adopted, residents would have to pay $13.64 for trash pickup, compared with the $1.91 they pay currently. This measure could generate around $357,000 for the city.

This proposed increase in the city’s trash and recycling service fee didn’t sit well with Brighton resident Pat Cole, who said the increase is just too much for people on fixed incomes.

“I would like you all to consider that there are people out there just like myself that just can’t afford this,” Cole said, addressing the council.

The city also plans to reduce Other Post Employee Benefits (OPEB) contributions to $50,000 in the general fund and to $24,472 in the city's utilities fund.

The City Council also proposes to leave a clerical dispatch position open at the city police department that could potentially affect public safety.

“Without this position, it's going to affect our ability to cover our front desk and receive phone calls from the public, and walk-ins from the public as well,” Police Chief Thomas Wightman said.

With what seemed to be controversial cuts and an anticipated heated public hearing, only two Brighton residents in attendance spoke to a relatively empty room. Brighton resident Pat Cole was disappointed at the lack of public interest.

“I personally think it’s pretty sad that we got a turnout of two people, or maybe three if we’re lucky,” said Cole.

The council is expected to adopt the proposed budget at its May 5 meeting.