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.