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MARQUETTE -- During Monday night's meeting of the Marquette City Commission, commissioners unanimously passed the city's 2027 budget proposal.
The budget includes approximately $11.7 million in capital and infrastructure projects, including the Cinder Pond Marina reconstruction ($3.38 million) and Division Street reconstruction – Genesee to Joliet (2.4 million), along with many smaller projects such as the Presque Isle Bandshell restroom reconstruction, a summer dog park and a CR-550 multi-use path extension.
$4.1 million of those projects will be funded through grants and contributions, while the remaining $11.7 million will be funded through a combination of the General Fund, Major and Local Street Funds, Utility Funds, Tourist Park Funds and likely some bonding, though the exact bonding amount will not be known until a later date.
The budget also calls for a rate increase for utilities such as water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste collection, with an average cumulative monthly bill increase of about $8.24, or about $99 for the year.
City Manager Karen Kovacs said that these rate increases come from improving infrastructure, maintaining existing infrastructure and contractual increases.
During Kovacs' presentation on the budget she also talked about Marquette's General Fund, which has a yearly revenue of $26.8 million; $14.8 million of which comes from property taxes.
For each dollar of property taxes a Marquette resident pays, 44% goes to city operations, 32% goes to education, 19% goes to the county, 4% goes to Peter White Public Library and 1% goes to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail.
For the average resident, that adds up to a monthly city property tax bill of $148.30, and a yearly bill of $1,779.57.
"For $148 a month, city residents receive very critical services ... an accredited police department .. state-of-the-art fire department and EMS services, parks and recreation... programs like the citizens academy and police citizens academy, and staff that answer the phones and help our residents with questions, and those safe and secure local elections with expert staff," said Kovacs.
Kovacs also discussed how Marquette is in a bit of a unique situation as a municipality, as 50% of its land is non-taxable.
"(That land) is taken up by the other things that add value, such as our nonprofits, our churches, our university and government owned land, especially our lakefront," said Kovacs. "So when we look at 50% that is taxable, that is where it's sitting on a lot of our residents to shoulder that burden."
There was a public hearing held for the budget adoption, but no one from the community was there to speak at it.
"It's not easy to balance a $27 million budget and try to figure that out, especially with what we're up against constantly with the changing of finances and how difficult things have been because of inflation," said Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Ottaway. "I'm really proud of the somewhat conservative approach we've taken fiscally ... I'm optimistic. I'm a little worried about the rates, but I'm optimistic, and ultimately I'm happy where we're at."
The commission voted unanimously to approve next year's budget.
Also at Monday night's meeting, the commission heard a presentation from Deputy City Manager Dean Hobbins about Marquette's Wastewater Treatment Plant, and gave performance reviews to city attorney Suzanne Curry Larsen and to Marquette City Manager Kovacs. Larsen and Kovacs are the only two direct employees of the City Commission, and each received a term increase to the end of 2029, as well as a 6% raise.
More information about Marquette's 2027 budget and Monday night's meeting can be found at marquettemi.portal.civicclerk.com/.
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.