I would like to take a few moments to explain a vital revenue the village receives in it general fund, that being State Revenue Sharing. Did you know;
Elk Rapids uses state funding, called revenue sharing, to pay for many quality of life services that make our community the type of place where people want to live and business want to locate.
Revenue Sharing was promised to local communities in the Michigan Constitution to help pay for core government services such as police protection, fire services, roads, water, sewer and garbage collection services.
It started when the State of Michigan promised communities it would streamline tax collection by eliminating local taxes and replacing them with state taxes. The State collects and records these taxes and is suppose to reimburse local jurisdictions to off set the general budgets of local communities.
In every budget since 2000, the State has not fully returned revenue sharing as required by state statute. Six consecutive years of cuts has left local communities short $2 billion short on revenue sharing.
The legislature needs to recognize the connection between the essential services provided by local communities and the economic vitality of our state.
Local communities are the foundation of successful economic development in Michigan. Safe streets and functioning infrastructure are critical to attracting and maintaining businesses.
Communities have reduced their services, eliminated public safety positions and consolidated services to deal with lost revenue.
According to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, there are nearly 16-hundred fewer police officers on the streets of Michigan since 2001.
The state’s Fire Marshall Office reports 400 fewer fire fighters since 2003.
Senior, recreation and public library programs have been drastically cut or eliminated.
Local governments cannot continue to provide essential services if funding is continually redistributed or other budget priorities.
Had revenue sharing kept up with inflation I estimate Elk Rapids would receive an additional $94,000 in the general fund budget next year. The amount equates to almost 1 mill. Please let your representative and senator know how important it is for them to preserve and increase State revenue sharing.
So, whats in a village budget? The Elk Rapids Village budget process usually starts in September of each year. I will send out a notice to village department heads and commissions to start thinking about next years budget, which starts on February 1st. By December I have the staff and commission recommendations inserted in the budget. At this time the budget goes to the Village Council. Along with the line item budget is a narrative section that helps to give further explanation of each budget item. The Council then holds a work session on the budget in late January at which time budget items are added, deleted or adjusted. The major difficulty of setting a final budget is due to the unknown taxable value of the community. At this time we are making our best estimate on millage rates until the taxable value is known sometime in April. The Council will hold two public hearings in February and at the last meeting in will approve the budget. It is important to know that the budget is a planning tool and can be adjusted by the council during the fiscal year. The 2007-2008 budget has over 600 active line items in over 32 different funds. This year the budget for all funds is $6,425,045. The only funds that receive direct local taxes are the General Fund, Street Fund, Refuse Fund and Debt Millage Fund. We are at this time anticipating the overall millage rate will be reduced by .1785 mills. Some of the common misconceptions are that local tax millage money goes into the operation of the harbor, water and sewer funds. This is not true as all of these funds operate on the revenue they raise. Our last public hearing is scheduled for February 20th at 7 p.m., hope to see you there.
A process begins. As noted earlier the Village has received a new permit application to develop The Cottages of Elk Rapids (formerly known as the Preserve). The applicant request that the development be approved under the code section known as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The intent of a PUD is to; encourage innovation and variety in land use, design, layout, natural resources, energy and provision of public services and utilities; encourage useful open space, and provide better housing, employment, and shopping opportunities particularly suited to the needs of the residents of the village, county and state and not unreasonably create and adverse economic, social or environmental impact on surrounding land uses.
Upon the receipt of the PUD application the developer has the option of discussing the development with village staff members. Should the developer select this review process, the staff will then review the application as it relates to the Zoning Code, Infrastructure Standards and any other criteria that the staff feels is in the best interest of the village. The village staff will also depend on professional consultants that have been retained by the village. We will then make recommendations for changes and advise the developer to implement the changes before it goes the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will review the developers plans along with staff comments and hold a public hearing on the proposed development. Based on their review the Planning Commission will then prepare a recommendation to the Village Council. The Village Council will then hold a public hearing and approve the plan as submitted, approve the plan with changes, deny the application or send the application back to the Planning Commission for further review. At this point in the process the proposal has been reviewed by staff, reviewed by the Planning Commission, reviewed by the public at two public hearings and reviewed by the Village Council. A process ends.
Reminder to everyone that the Village Council meets Tuesday, February 20th at 7 p.m. Among the agenda items are; a public hearing on the 2008-2008 budget with a resolution to approve the budget, a public hearing on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and resolution to approve the Plan, approve bids for the reconstruction of the alley south of River Street between Pine and Cedar Streets, approve an engineering agreement for the same project, approve next seasons gazebo rental rates and approve the 2007 fee schedule. For new business the council will discuss in increase in water rates, the auditors proposal for the next three years and have a first reading on an ordinance to provide for fines for the misuse of dock spaces.
The Elk Rapids Downtown Development Authority has been busy. In addition to considering a major reconstruction project on the east side of US 31, bids were recently received to reconstruct the ally south of River Street between Bridge Street and Cedar Street. The reconstruction activities include, replacement of the sanitary sewer, placing underground all the utilities (telephone, electricity and cable), new alley lighting (shoe box type) and some curb and gutter. In addition, provided adequate funds are available, Cedar Street will be repaved form River Street to Traverse Street. One of the major challenges in this project is to complete it prior to major summer traffic. This project will be paid entirely with Downtown Development Authority funds. On the east side the Downtown Development Authority is considering reconstruction of Lake Street from Ames Street to Olds Street with some anticipated improvements to Industrial Drive. The major improvement in this area will be the handling of storm water. This project is still in it infancy and there is more to come.
The Elk Rapids Community Recreation Plan draft is complete and ready for your review and comments. On Tuesday, February 20th the Village Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed plan. The plan is available for review at the Elk Rapids Library and at the Elk Rapids Governmental Center. When the plan is approved it will guide village related recreation projects for at least the next five years. We hope to see you at the public hearing. It you are unable to attend please feel free to forward your written comments to; Village Clerk, P.O. Box 398, Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629
Are the water lines in your home protected from the frigid temperatures? If you believe that some of your home water lines are not protected you should consider running water in your house. The water should run in a small stream about the size of a pencil.
Please join us. The Elk Rapids Village Council meets Monday, February 5th at 7 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Governmental Center at 315 Bridge Street. The open agenda is as follows;
Public Hearing on the proposed 2007-2008 village budget. Public Hearing on an amendment to the Zoning and Unified Development Code. A resolution to approve an amendment to the Zoning and Unified Development Code (changes the manner in which special use permits and planned unit development permits are amended). A resolution to approve a liquor license for a new restaurant downtown. A resolution to approve a bid for dredging in the harbor. Discussion on funding for the village recycling operation. Village Council comments on the proposed Village Master Plan. Discussion on the Michigan Municipal League conference and the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance luncheon. Plus all the regular action items.
