Council Considers Tax Rate Monday

Saline City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. following a budget session starting one hour earlier Monday night.

Council will use the session to finalize fiscal plans for 2012-13 before considering a recommendation to direct city staff to keep the millage at 15.53 mills for next year.

City council has not yet reached a consensus on the matter. Council member Jim Roth, who is opposed to a plan to borrow money to fill a budget gap, has urged council members to raise the millage rate rather than “kick the problem down the road.”

Roth hasn’t had much support for the idea. So far, council appears to be leaning toward a plan that puts off purchases, requires a wage freeze and concessions from city employees, and refinancing debt. The plan also calls for reducing the DPW from 14 to 10 employees and elimination of the Deputy Police Chief’s position.

The city has 1.8 mills of excess levy capacity, which would generate $660,000 next year for the city, if used. In a memo to city council, administrative finance assistant Kathy Corfman reported that tax revenue from residential real estate had bottomed out and tax revenue from commercial real estate is still experiencing a slight decline.

A revenue solution — whether it’s raising the millage, using the voter-approved fire millage, or a new tax for parks and recreation — doesn’t appear to have much support for this year.

Here’s what else is on tap:

• Council will consider an agreement between Gene DeRossett and the City of Saline for the installation of 10 burial crypts in Oakwood Cemetery. Corfman wishes to use a private firm to install the crypts in lots 1 and 2 of the cemetery.

• Council will hear a proposal to upgrade the flagpole area in Oakwood cemetery. George Perrault, of the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 310, said the organization wants to replace the 40-year-old flag pole in the cemetery and new lighting. The group would like a city liaison to help oversee the project and permission from city council to initiate the “What So Proudly We Hail” project.

• Mangiamo Italian Grill is asking the city to approve a sidewalk café and to adopt a resolution recommending a new dance permit/entertainment permit for the 107 Group. The café calls for two tables in front of the ice cream shop and five tables in front of Mangiamo.

• Cindy Czubko will make a presentation on Key Bank Downtown Cleanup Day.

Here’s what’s in the consent agenda:

• The appointment of council member Linda TerHaar to the Zoning Board of Appeals. She’ll replace Brian Marl, who has a voting conflict with planning commission.

• The appointment of TJ Truskowski and Dan Troyka to the ZBA for three-year terms.

• A series of budget amendments from administrative finance assistant Kathy Corfman. A series of cost savings and delayed projects will help the city’s general fund balance increase nearly $500,000 to $1.2 million.