Press Release | Office of the Mayor | City of Westland Adopts 2017-18 FY Balanced Budget

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

City of Westland Adopts 2017-18 FY Balanced Budget

Westland, MI - The Westland City Council has officially adopted a balanced 2017-18 fiscal year budget of $65,840,641. The budget includes no increases in millage rates and projects an unassigned budget surplus of over $5.7 million, which is approximately 9% of General Fund expenditures.

"While this is positive news, the multi-year forecast presented to City Council also shows that challenging financial times are on the horizon.," Mayor Wild cautioned. "Flat revenue streams paired with continually rising costs, especially for pensions and healthcare, will require careful attention and cost containment in the coming years."

Key expenditures in the 2017-18 General Fund Budget include the scheduled replacement of ballistic vests for Police officers, extension of the employment of four police officers under a federal COPS grant and three fire fighters under a FEMA SAFER grant, continued Parks and Recreation funding for refurbishment of the City's park and baseball facilities and an update of the City's 5-year Parks and Recreation Plan.

To address its unfunded pension liability, City Council approved an additional $300,000 contribution into the MERS pension plan for general employees.

Also included in the 2017-18 City budget is funding for capital investments, totaling over $5 million, including replacement of a Fire ladder truck and two rescue vehicles, 5 new police cars, and ball field fencing at Jaycee and Voss Parks, Senior Center roof reconstruction, local road paving projects, water main improvements and sewer main lining.

"My administration has worked very closely with City Council in developing this year's budget. We are continuing to make fiscally responsible decisions that improve quality of life for residents and provide high quality municipal services, while remaining mindful of legacy costs and other financial challenges facing the City in the not too distant future," commented Mayor William R. Wild.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at

(734) 467-3200.

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.