Sturgis’ city commission was nearly unanimous in approving a fiscal year 2024-25 budget Wednesday. The budget passed 5-1, with Vice Mayor Aaron Miller casting the lone dissenting vote.
While Miller says the budget is very well put together, his vote against it has to do with a previous vote on Sturgis’ millage.
“I was very much opposed to reducing our millage at this time because of all of the costs that we’re up against,” Miller said. “There are active, ongoing costs associated with our ambulance service and the debt associated with the hospital. Those are two very, very big ones. I just wasn’t in favor of the cuts made as a result of that millage vote.”
The appropriation resolution includes a summary of activity prior to Wednesday.
“After holding a public hearing on June 26, 2024, and receiving public comment, the City elected to levy a tax rate below the maximum authorized of 11.6689 after statutory roll-back,” it states. “The City operating tax rate is set at 11.0800 mils and the City Street and Sidewalk Improvement tax rate is set at 2.9667 mils for ad valorem parcels for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, levied in July 2024.”
Wednesday’s vote came after a nearly 40-minute hearing led by City Manager Andrew Kuk. While Miller said he could not support the budget in its current form, he credited Kuk, City Controller Holly Keyser, and other city staff for putting together “a good budget given the millage vote.”
“I just was not in favor of reducing our millage at this time,” Miller repeated.
Sturgis’ city charter requires that a budget be adopted on or before Tuesday, August 20.
Later in the meeting, Kuk announced that the “Electric City” project did meet its goal for patron funds. Thirty-six patrons contributed $50,863 prior to the 11:30 p.m. deadline Monday, August 12. Installation of downtown lighting is expected to take place over the next few months in time for the Christmas season.
Commissioners Linda Harrington, 3rd Precinct, and Robert Hile, 4th Precinct, were absent from Wednesday’s meeting. The next city commission meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 28.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
