St. Joseph City Commissioners have approved the budget and millage rates for the next year.
The city commission heard from Finance Director Ben Reynells Monday many of the millages will go slightly, with the total overall millage rate paid by property owners set at 18.46 mills for the year. All of that goes to a $52 million overall city budget, the bulk of which goes to public safety and streets.
With commissioners taking heat lately over the paid parking downtown, Commissioner Michael Sarola took a moment to address the audience and point out the city needs to finance about $92 million in infrastructure work through 2031, some of it mandatory. With property tax revenues of $12 million per year, he said commissioners have to walk a tight rope to balance everything.
“There’s been a lot of chatter in the community and from this body about the city wasting money and lining pockets, I think I heard people say,” Sarola said. “Whether you’re for parking or not, this is our reality. This is what we have to come in and solve.”
Sarola said the parking fees will at least help with lot maintenance.
City Manager Emily Hackworth told us the budget is balanced and puts the city in a good position to begin tackling all of those infrastructure obligations. But not all of it is water and sewer work. She said the capital projects in the budget include some things residents ought to welcome.
“The Dickinson Park restroom project is going to go forward, as well as the Dickinson Park playground, which is something that I know has been talked about for years and years,” Hackworth said. “We also are working on enhancements to Kiwanis Park, specifically replacing the skate park that’s there.”
And the playground at Kiwanis Park is receiving improvements.
The bigger projects, the ones Sarola talked about, include things like the $22.7 million CSO storage project, which is a sewer upgrade. The Main Street reconstruction comes at a $10.9 million cost, while the replacement of lead water lines will run $8.1 million. The city is seeking grants and low interest loans for as much of the work as it can while spreading out its share over several years.