News Photo by Crystal Nelson Rogers City Equipment Operator Dave Bruning on Wednesday heads out to clear snow from the roads in the city’s plow truck.

ROGERS CITY — The Rogers City City Council on Wednesday took a first look at its budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

The “bare bones” figures presented to the council by City Manager Joe Hefele only covered the city’s operational expenses. Council will hold a workshop on March 11 so department heads can present their wish lists and council members can discuss projects they would like to see in the budget.

“A little less than a month from now, we’ll sit down, take out the capital improvement plan, go over the priorities council has set and things the council wants to do,” Hefele said. “Department heads will also be here. They’re working on their wish lists now and you’ll have a list of what those things are so you’re not surprised by them.”

The proposed budget does not include a marketing tax that has been discussed by the Rogers City Downtown Development Authority.

The initial budget accounts for $1.8 million in revenue and $1.7 in expenditures, with $68,000 in excess revenue going into the city’s cash savings. The excess revenue would increase the city’s fund balance to about $1 million.

Property taxes and state revenue sharing account for 59% and 18.7%, respectively, of the revenue city officials expect to receive. Other revenue sources include grant funding, service fees, and fines.

One of the larger projects in the proposed budget is the plan to check for lead while completing water main repairs under First and Lake streets. The Michigan Safe Water Drinking Act’s lead and copper rule requires municipalities to replace all lead lines and fittings over the next 20 years.

Local governments are expected to change at least 5% of lead lines each year unless an alternative schedule is approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Hefele said the city would dig holes and look at where the service line meets the water main where the older mains and homes are located. He said that way, the city could prove to the state the city doesn’t have any lead lines or fittings without having to dig up every connection in the city.

The older lines have the highest likelihood of lead, he said.

Additionally, Hefele said the city has between $400,000 and $500,000 saved to invest in street projects this year. Other expenditures, such as scheduled vehicle replacement for the police and public works departments, are also included in the budget.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.