Press Release | Office of the Mayor | City of Westland Adopts 2019-20 FY 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 2019-20 FY Budget

Westland, MI - (June 5, 2019) On Monday June 3rd the Westland City Council approved the Mayor's 2019-2019 proposed $68 million balanced budget. The budget includes no increases in millage rates and adds over $334,000 to the General Fund balance, preserving a "rainy day" fund balance at over $6.7 million.

The budget complies with the city's recently approved MERS Pension and Retiree Healthcare Corrective Action Plans . The City plans to contribute an additional $500,000 towards the retiree healthcare liability above the normal "pay as you go" costs . The City will also make the annual required contribution for the City's MERS pension plan , as outlined in the plan.

Also included is funding for much needed infrastructure improvements. The budget allocates planned expenditures of $4.8 million for the City's major and local roads throughout the City. The budget also includes approximately $3.3 million towards water & sewer capital projects. Provisions were also made to improve handicap parking at the Jefferson Barnes Community Vitality Center and for capital investments for Public Safety and replacement of several Public Service Vehicles.

Other capital investments funded include safety and security equipment for the Police Department, Fire Department, and the Friendship Center . In terms of technology, the city will be updating its website and the Westland Click and Fix mobile app.

"While this is a very conservative budget, but it does allow for strategic investment in the City's infrastructure and public safety as well as the addition of necessary personnel and technology advancements to improve services to our residents," commented Mayor Wild.

The budget proposal is available to view on www.cityofwestland.com under the OpenGov section .

For more information, contact the Mayor's Office 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.