E.L. plans possible service reductions

East Lansing residents likely will see the effect of budget struggles through city services, as officials have discussed scaling back to reduce a combined two-year, $5 million deficit.

Some measures debated during East Lansing City Council’s budget planning meeting Saturday included softening support for arts and culture festivals, consolidating the city’s elementary schools and middle school under the supervision of one police officer instead of two, reducing leaf pickup from three to two times per year, easing parks maintenance, offering a citizen police academy course every other year instead of annually and holding a 10-week emerging leaders program for those interested in local government once per year instead of twice.

“I think the reality is people choose to live in East Lansing because of the high level and quality of services,” Councilmember Nathan Triplett said. “The truth of the matter is those services have a cost.”

The city also is mulling a half-millage increase on property taxes, which would hit homeowners another $4 to $6 per month, and using money from its nearly $3.2 million reserves.

Summer Minnick, director of state affairs with the Michigan Municipal League, said the avenues East Lansing is exploring are common for Michigan communities during this economic climate. She said leaving positions vacant, millage hikes and reduction in service levels will be the generic prescription.

Minnick said the state cut $4 billion in revenue sharing intended for local governments during the last decade, which has forced city governments to make difficult choices.

“I think that most communities are running out of options, quite frankly,” she said, adding that the Legislature’s leadership has undervalued investment in local government. “(Citizens will have to) decide what kind of services they want and what kind of community they want.”

Councilmember Roger Peters said the strain placed on remaining city staff has been exacerbated by the inability to make new hires. He said the city has consistently restructured departments for the past three to four years when the city loses staff members, which has steadily decreased the amount of city employees.

Peters said such complications likely will lead to slower response times regarding snow removal, an issue that could see its first test if an expected snowstorm comes to fruition Tuesday.

Cameron Lucke, a comparative cultures and politics junior, said he is optimistic the city and state’s budget situation will improve. Until then, he said the city is limited in what it can do to maintain the level of services it provides.

“It’s either you just cut certain things or scale back on some and emphasize others,” he said. “Either way you put it, some things are going to get the short end of the stick. So whether it’s changed completely or just scaled back, it’s not going to be the same as it was.”