Saginaw has received $52 million in federal ARPA funds, so should not the 2023-24 budget be hale and hearty with Monday’s City Council approval?
Not necessarily.
The windfall from the American Rescue Plan Act is only for special projects, not for expanding basics such as public safety. Therefore, the $40.2 million general fund, with a 3.9 percent increase that doesn’t even keep up with inflation, will continue to rely on state police to continue backing up the depleted city force, while the Hess Fire Station will remain closed, leaving the southeast city quadrant to rely on the downtown and Fordney Park stations.
ARPA will help with long-delayed maintenance and upkeep, with HVAC replacing City Hall’s legion of window air conditioners. Upkeep also will occur at Hoyt Park and Ojibway Island. Housing, community agencies and youth programs are other ARPA priorities beyond the regular general fund.
The total budget is $178.2 million, but this includes $138 million in separate accounts for big tickets like water, sewer and streets, all the way to fees for rubbish pickup. The general fund is the portion limited by the voter-approved 1979 property tax cap limits.
Key portions of the document are City Manager Tim Morales’ summary on Page 8. Contents contain numerous explanatory and educational charts. A good place to view various categories begins around Page 40.
The ’23-24 fiscal year begins July 1.
