Now is time to find out about local budgets
It’s budget time in many Northeast Michigan communities. It’s a time when local government establishes its foreseeable expenses and projects its revenue to cover those expenses.
These are our tax dollars at work, the reason we pay taxes to our city, township and county. The reason we live where we do is in part because of how our local government provides the services we need and how they are funded.
Those local governments that are in the budget process have either put forth, or soon will be putting forth, the next fiscal year’s budget for the public to view. This is local government transparency at its finest. The budget is there for all to view.
This is your chance to see how tax dollars are spent at the local level and if you have budget questions or concerns to have them answered. Your elected officials are responsible for those budgets and this is your opportunity to make known your thoughts on the budget.
Community budgets aren’t sexy or necessarily a hot topic in the minds of most residents. However, six months from now is not the time you want to find out the reason your road filled with potholes hasn’t been fixed, even as a patchwork, is because there was no mention of it in the budget.
We encourage everyone to review your community’s budget, give input and ask questions. It’s your money, so looking over the budget is the best way to see how it is being spent.