Shores Council Informally Discusses Budget

council reviewed an initial draft of the 2011/2012 proposed budget Tuesday. Some figures are likely to change the end of this fiscal year plays out. 

City Manager Brian Vick reviewed the numbers line-by-line, highlighting some of the more important areas. Among the factors likely to change the initial draft numbers are the Board of Review hearings, during which residents can appeal the taxable value of their home. 

The Shores revenue/funding will drop by about $320,000 according to the initial values handed down by Wayne and Macomb counties. That number is likely to change as individual homeowners appeal and fight to get their home taxable values lowered, Vick said. 

Another factor that could change the numbers is a consolidated dispatch center among the Pointes, which if put in place by April 1 would save the Shores about $50,000, Vick said. 

A consolidated dispatch center has been under serious discussion by all of the Pointes as one way to join forces and save money. Each of the Pointes have said they've already trimmed the fat from their budgets and operations during the last few years and this year will require deeper cuts. 

Although the Shores is participating in conversations with all of the Pointes for consolidation efforts, they are also in discussion with one single Pointe about consolidation efforts as well. The particular Pointe was not identified and Vick told council he won't make a recommendation about what route the Shores should go until after the next meeting with all of the Pointes, which is March 9. 

Council will also consider recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee. The committee is a group of residents who volunteered to review the Shores healthcare and ways to change it to bring the costs into a more manageable package without compromising the benefits for employees. 

The committee unanimously recommended a specific change that would allow employee contributions into a trust fund, from which it can be drawn on during retirement for medical purposes all without being taxed. The committee presented a plan of action for each of the six categories of employees for the Shores. 

Council is likely to address the recommendation during its next council meeting. 

"I feel good about the position we're in," Vick said of the initial draft of the budget.