Members of the Northville City Council approved the 2023 fiscal budget during a recent meeting. The general operating millage in the city will be reduced to 13.0182 mills. The street, drainage, and sidewalk improvement millage will decrease to 1.6216 mills. Both reductions are in compliance with the Headlee amendment, officials said. The street bond millage will be set at 0.7862 mills.
Council members also agreed to reallocate $110,000 in funds from the Public Improvement Fund from racetrack breakage revenue toward police and fire equipment. The city will purchase a used bucket truck at a cost of $50,000 and $60,000 will be dedicated to police and fire equipment reserves. Uncommitted racetrack breakage revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 amounted to $319,313. In addition, reallocation of non-breakage revenue from the fund will be used to pay a portion of the cost of a new play structure at Ford Field.
Fifteen thousand dollars allocated to the pavilion at Fish Hatchery Park will instead go toward the Fort Griswold replacement play structure, coupled with $135,000. Council members later carved out $50,000 from the $150,000 play structure allotment to be directed toward general improvements to Ford Field. Other reallocated funds are $25,000 for a large format printer and $18,000 to cover higher than budgeted costs for city entrance signs.
Council members also approved the purchase of a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD police vehicle, which will be delivered after July 1 as part of the fiscal year 2023 budget. The purchase allows the department to rotate vehicles so that a 2015 administrative vehicle can be sold and a 2017 Ford Explorer will be converted from a police vehicle to administrative use. The new Tahoe is offered on the State of Michigan MIDEAL contract for $40,426. It will be outfitted with equipment from the decommissioned 2017 Explorer, officials said.
