The three-year balanced budget Westland Mayor William R. Wild presented to members of the city council earlier this month includes his proposal for use of $13 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. A second allocation of $13 million to the city is expected to arrive in May, officials said.
As part of the budget Wild presented, he included $5 million for general fund support spread over three years as recovery of lost revenue associated with the pandemic; $3.5 million for public safety and public services vehicles and equipment; $1.5 million for affordable housing and senior care through a collaboration with Presbyterian Village of Michigan; $1.25 million for building and property improvements at the police department, golf course and ice arena; $450,000 for Central City Park pond improvements;
$400,000 for the purchase of residential basement flooding mitigation equipment; $350,000 for Hero Pay for all full-time employees (excluding elected officials); $300,000 for the purchase of a tree truck/chipper to be used for power outage mitigation and $200,000 for public broadband infrastructure.If adopted, the city would adhere to current procurement policies and procedures and would provide a reconciliation to the city council once items have been purchased, received and paid, Wild explained.
“The City of Westland is required to expend the entirety of its ARPA allocation by 2024,” commented Wild. “With the current lead time on the procurement of vehicles and equipment along with the need for engineering and construction planning to take place for other capital expenditures, it is necessary to begin acting on these matters as quickly as possible.”
Included in the $72.4 million budget for 2022-23 is an overall taxable value increase of 6.15 percent.
“The City of Westland could achieve a major milestone in the history of the city with the adoption of this 30-year balanced budget. The city is in a strong financial position and a 3-year balanced budget is a recognized best practice in local government and is expected to have a positive impact on the city's bond rating,” Wild said.
