Westland's Mayor William Wild Presents $70 Million Balanced Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22

Westland - On Monday, April 5, Mayor William R. Wild presented the Westland City Council with a $70 million balanced budget proposal for fiscal year 2021-22. The budget adds approximately $157,000 to the General Fund unassigned balance, preserving a "rainy day" fund balance at approximately $6.6 million.

Highlights of proposed budget include an overall taxable value increase of 3.30%, a provision to continue the City's match for 13 Federally funded SAFER Grant Firefighters, an addition of a full-time Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Director as well as funding to research converting the vacant Marshall Middle School into a community recreation center, and also creating the city's first dog park and Pickle Ball Courts.

The budget also includes an additional payment of $500,000 above costs, to lower the city's unfunded retiree healthcare (OPEB) liability. An additional $150,000 has also been allocated to offer cash incentives to retirees to discontinue the City's healthcare coverage, which will reduce the City's costs long-term.

The budget allocates planned infrastructure expenditures of $4.2 million for the City's major and local roads throughout the City in 26 neighborhoods which includes 70 major and local roads. The budget also includes approximately $4.37 million to fund planned water & sewer capital projects in 6 neighborhoods and 37 roads throughout the City's 611 miles of water & sewer systems. Provisions were also made for an additional $1.2 million in capital improvements, including a new fire rescue vehicle; three new police patrol cars; a new electric community police vehicle; various DPS vehicles including a new sewer vactor truck; technology upgrades, bike lanes and sidewalk repairs.

The City of Westland will be holding virtual budget study sessions on:

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Saturday, May 1, 2021

*Times are subject to deviation. Information on how the public can attend these virtual meetings along with the 2021-22 budget proposal are available on http://www.cityofwestland.com

"The City's Finance Team has worked very hard on this year's budget proposal," commented Mayor Wild. "This proposed conservative budget allows for continued improvements to the City's neighborhood infrastructure, supports public safety and makes significant progress towards lowering unfunded pension and retiree healthcare obligation and honoring the city's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion."

Budget can be viewed at http://www.cityofwestland.com.