Press Release | Office of the Mayor | City of Westland Receives Glowing Audit Report

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 Receives Glowing Audit Report

Westland, MI - Westland city officials received a positive audit report during the Council study session on January 21, 2020. Plante Moran auditors issued an unmodified opinion, the highest available, stating that the June 30, 2019 financial statements are fairly presented and accurately reflect the City's financial position.

The City increased its General Fund's rainy day fund balance by approximately $200,000. The City also complied with the requirements issued by the State of Michigan and received $1.4 million under the State's revenue sharing program. Cost containment efforts have continued, with nearly all departments coming in under budget for the year, while also showing a decrease in total outstanding bond debt of approximately $2.6 million.

"The City of Westland continues to have strong budget process and practices that have led to positive financial results demonstrated in the current year," commented Alisha Watkins, CPA and Partner at Plante Moran.

"During the 2018-19 fiscal year, the City was able to reinvest more than $9.6 million on various capital improvements, including water & sewer line repairs and upgrades, various road and park improvements, and new public service equipment and vehicles," commented Mayor Wild. "We continue to look ahead in our financial forecasting and make fiscally responsible decisions for our City's residents and businesses."

In addition, the City opened a retiree healthcare Trust Fund in 2019 in order to start funding the underfunded portion of the retiree healthcare benefit obligations. Other components of the City's plan for managing the unfunded retiree healthcare obligation in accordance with the Public Act 202 plan have collectively led to a significant decrease in the retiree healthcare benefit obligation and liability.

"The Audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 ended with most departments coming in under budget and the City adding to the surplus in the General Fund," commented Finance Director, Steve Smith. "The City also continues to make positive progress on the outstanding legacy costs. The overall unfunded liability in total for the pension funds and the Retiree health care fund (OPEB) was reduced by over $67 million last year."

For more information, please call (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.