Robert Van Kirk
criminal justice senior
“Community policing is always an important route to go.”
—The city of East Lansing’s upcoming discussions centered around its tightened budget might have implications on the city’s spending, not only servicing permanent residents, but MSU students as well.
East Lansing’s preliminary budget for the 2014 fiscal year, encompassing all the funds for the city, is expected to be almost 3 percent less than the 2013 fiscal year budget, according to city documents.
It’s an issue students should pay attention to, Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Triplett said.
“(Students) drive on East Lansing streets and get clean water from our water treatment plant,” Triplett said. “They’re protected by our police and fire fighters and benefit from the wide variety of city events and opportunities.”
The funds total about $66.88 million, a 2.71 percent decrease from the previous year’s budget of $68.74 million.
City Manager George Lahanas said the budget doesn’t vary greatly, as it’s a year-to-year process.
“Generally, our service levels are staying the same from this year to next year,” he said.
The city council will begin the budget discussion process today at a special work session at 5:30 p.m. before its regular work session at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.
A budget overview will be presented at the meeting, where council can ask questions before Finance Director Mary Haskell.
It will be the first of several work sessions about the budget, with next week’s session centered on the water and sewage funds, street funds and the solid waste fund.
The final vote on the budget is scheduled for May 21.
Councilmember Kevin Beard said the city has dealt with a declining budget for more than a decade, including ongoing trends of less funding from the state and the strain of the 2008 recession.
“We have been hoping that these kinds of measures would be temporary, but the long-term economic decline in the state has continued this process,” Beard said.
Both Beard and Triplett said during the meeting they plan to ask about improvements to the sidewalks and streets.
Triplett said the budget reflects how the city will move forward in reinvesting in its infrastructure and paying for improvements to streets, water pipes and sidewalks.
Total street funding for the 2014 fiscal year is more than $3.6 million, slightly more than one percent less than the previous year’s total.
“We’ve had two tough winters,” Beard said, referring to the city’s sidewalks and roads. “Things are not in good shape.”
WORD ON THE STREET: What services should the city prioritize in its budget?
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