| Volunteers Needed for City Parks The Budget Chicago Drive Sewer Rates New Finance Director/Treasurer 2001 Millages Hazardous Waste Collection |
| New playground equipment has been purchased for Hughes Park and for Hillside Park, the new city park located off of Hill Side Drive in Creek View Estates. The playground equipment includes modules of slides, cliff climbers, a track rider, a ring bridge, a pilot panel and an image panel. Swings will also be installed at Hillside Park. The City is planning to install this equipment on July 28 with the help of volunteers from the community. |
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| If you are able and willing to help at either Hillside Park or Hughes Park, please contact Shannon at the Department of Public Works at 669-0200. |
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This article highlights some important information about what a budget is. This may help the citizens of Hudsonville understand their city’s budget a little more.
A budget is a financial plan that controls expenditures. Any government depends on a budget to properly function. In a tri-polar government, the executive branch usually prepares the budget for a governmental unit. The legislative branch makes reviews and approves the budget. The legislative branch makes appropriations based on the approved budget. These appropriations authorize the executive to spend specific amounts of money on specific programs.
In a municipality the city manager usually prepares the budget. Once drafted, the author submits the budget to the city commission. While determining how much money can be spent for what purposes, the legislative body directs and limits the programs of the municipal government. Additionally, the legislative body fixes the amount of money that local taxes must raise. Because of this, the review and adoption of the budget usually generate controversy. At the hearing and meetings on the budget, representatives of various interest groups and public often argue in favor of programs for which they want more money
and against programs of which they disapprove.
While making a financial plan, one must know the amount of money available for expenditure. Therefore, a good budget will contain a statement of all of the municipality’s sources of income and estimate coming year’s revenues. To check the estimates, the budget should include previous years’ revenues. Any substantial differences between the former experience and the predictions for the future should be explained.
The expenditure side of the budget contains the estimates of the cost to provide services during the coming year. In many municipalities, the heads of the operating departments generally prepare these estimates. To determine the cost of sustained levels of service, many people use the inflation rates displayed in the previous years. If the service levels alter, the estimate must reflect that alteration.
The legislature approaches funds according to the operating units of the municipal organization. Small municipalities may appropriate funds for each department. Larger municipalities may subdivide appropriations according to the bureaus or divisions within each department. Municipalities may also divide appropriations according to the final purpose, such as salaries and wages, contractual services, supplies, and equipment.
When the legislative branch approves a budget and passes the appropriations, it determines the total amount of money that can be spent during the coming year. Municipalities subtract all externally supplied funds from the total allocations. The remainder constitutes the amount the city must raise with taxes. Most municipalities raise this sum with the property tax.
Budget Basics
City commissions may deal with three types of annual budgets:
The Budget is a Legal Document
State law governs municipal budgets. Although no uniform budget document exists for cities, cities must use uniform revenue and expenditure categories that the state auditor specified. In some states, municipalities may use either annual or biennial budgets. In most states, municipalities must balance their budgets — anticipated revenues must equal forecasted expenditures. If a municipality has unexpected revenues, city officials may appropriate such funds with supplemental budget modification or allocate the funds to reserve funds or to the following year’s beginning balance. Only the commission can make expenditures that exceed revenues. To do so, the commission must transfer funds from reserve accounts (subject to commission approval) or issue interest-bearing warrants.
Budgeting Methods
Cities and towns use three budgeting methods: line-item or incremental, program, and zero-base.
Most local governments use line-item or incremental budgets. To prepare a line-item budget, add the proposed spending increases to the current expenditure levels. List the expenditure provided for each item in a department. While line-item budgets require little compilation effort, they may present the greatest difficulty to those who analyze service delivery.
Program budgets categorize expenditures according to specific services or outputs. The program budget enables a municipality to obtain goals with resource allocation. Thus, program budgets allow prioritization and discrimination amongst competing programs and services.
Zero-base budgeting involves building a budget from scratch each year. Those that compile the budget, review and rank programs and
activities, according to how they meet the city’s goals. The programs or services that least effectively meet the city’s goals may not receive funds in the upcoming budget.
As many of you already know, part of Chicago Drive at Balsam has been redesigned. MDOT has accomplished the first phase of a two phase project. Currently, when you are going south on Balsam and want to go to Grand Rapids, you must turn West instead of East. Many individuals 
have been ignoring the new signs and flags to direct them in the right direction.
Please take note that to turn East or West on to Chicago Drive from south bound Balsam Drive, you need to make a right hand turn.
Another phase of the project will come yet this season.
MDOT reported that they are still addressing the turn when you come from Grand Rapids. Instead of turning at the light, they will be requiring you to go past the light and turn in the banana turn area. This part will come sometime this construction season. In the meantime, enjoy the easier turn going south and don’t forget to get in the right lane!
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Effective with billings received in July, Hudsonville’s rates for the sewer utility use will be restructured and adjusted. Minimum Usage Requirement The City will be implementing a minimum 12,000 gallon per quarter usage rate. The City of Hudsonville is implementing this rate as we are posturing to become part of the Grandville-East Ottawa Wastewater Authority. Every community in the authority uses the 12,000 gallon per quarter minimum. Ready to Serve Charge (RTS) This charge represents system costs which are on-going, whether water is used or not. Examples of such costs include administrative wages, billing and collection costs, and portions of system debt and depreciation. Rate $7.14 - RTS $ 7.14 No Change (City $4.14 Authority $3.00) Note: This rate is for a typical 5/8” water meter size. The charge is “factored “ upward for larger meter sizes because of increased demand on the utility systems. |
Usage Charge Charges for water purchases and sewer disposal will be established to recover all other system costs (those not recovered in the RTS charge). In other words, those costs which are directly related to actual water used or sewer disposed. Current per 1,000 gallons - $1.94 Connection Charges: Current 5/8” meter size - $850 These revised rates are to accommodate and ready the city to become part of the Grandville-East Ottawa Wastewater Authority. This will entitle the city to plan for the future of your community, your children and grandchildren. Without this authority, Hudsonville would not have ample growth for the community in future years to come. The Water Rates will be looked at within the next few months. Wyoming is updating their Water Treatment Plant and substantial increases in rates are forecasted. |
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“I am very happy to have been chosen to be the City’s next Finance Director/Treasurer. I am hopeful that my tenure will last many years. My most recent position was with the County of Allegan where I held the position as Finance Director for 7 1/2 years. Prior to the county of Allegan, I spent over 5 years with the City of Kalamazoo.” “My wife, Mary, and I currently reside in Hopkins (about 20 miles S/SE of Hudsonville). We have 4 children; Peter 10, Jeremy 7, Matthew 5, and Hannah who is almost 3 years old.” “I would like to thank everyone for their very warm welcome.” |
The City of Hudsonville has lowered their millage rate for 2001. This will result in lower property taxes. The breakdown of our millage rate is as follows:
|
TAXING UNIT
|
PURPOSE
|
2000
MILLAGE RATE |
2001
MILLAGE RATE |
| City of Hudsonville | Operating |
11.6138
|
10.5000
|
| Library Operating |
1.0000
|
1.0000
|
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| Library Building |
.7404
|
.7369
|
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| State Education Tax |
3.0000
|
3.0000
|
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| Hudsonville Public Schools | Operating |
18.0000
|
18.0000
|
| Voted Building & Site |
.9784
|
.9707
|
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| Voted Debt |
7.0000
|
7.0000
|
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| Ottawa Intermediate School District | Operating |
.1087
|
.1083
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| Special Education |
3.1265
|
3.1160
|
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| Vocation Education |
1.0640
|
1.0611
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| Ottawa County | Operating |
3.60000
|
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| 911 |
.4515
|
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| Parks |
.3245
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The county has not set millages for 2001 levy since they only levy on the winter billing. This will not be updated until sometime in September. |
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A Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program will be held Tuesday, August 28, 2001, from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. You can drop off the hazardous waste at the Hudsonville DPW, 5713 Balsam Drive (next to the bowling alley). There are many household items that may be considered hazardous and are accepted in the program, like: furniture polish, batteries, cleaners, thermometers, adhesives, polyurethane, oil based paints, stains, antifreeze, gas/oil mixtures, car batteries, pesticides, and much more. The only items not accepted are latex paint, biohazards (syringes), prescription medications, and smoke detectors. If you have any questions please call the Ottawa County Health Department Environmental Health at 662-3100 ext. 5645. |
Hudsonville’s newest fire apparatus should be completed in late July according to Spencer Manufacturing. Hudsonville Fire personnel spent two years putting together the specifications for a new fire unit. Spencer Manufacturing was awarded the job and pre-construction meetings began in August 2000, with delivery date of approximately 350 calendar days. This new apparatus will be a 1500 gallon per minute pumper that is built on a HME chassis and will be equipped with a 75 foot aerial ladder. It will also have a full complement of ground ladders and 4” hose lines. The city was able to save taxpayers money by combining the pumper and aerial on one unit. The cost of this unit was $397,000 compared to over $700,000 for two separate units. |
Recently, the Department of Public Works completed its first annual National Public Works Week. It was quite a success. We visited four area schools and over 500 students heard all about what happens at Public Works. Since then, the onset of summer has created quite a few projects for us. We are maintaining the parks daily while accomplishing projects that can only be done during the warmer months. One project in particular is the resurfacing of some of the city streets. The resurfacing began June 25, 2001 and includes the following streets:
More streets will be added to the list as the project continues. We appreciate your patience during this time. Have a safe and happy summer!
The City of Hudsonville has been recognized as “StormReady” by the Grand Rapids, Michigan StormReady Advisory Board which is part of the National Weather Service. Hudsonville residents should take great pride and comfort to know that we have achieved this status.
The current StormReady recognition for the City of Hudsonville will be valid for two years. The recognition will expire on June 7, 2003 unless we reply six months prior to that date.
The City of Hudsonville is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, which will enable us to be eligible for additional ISO community rating system points. The ISO rating points determines the premium that you pay on home owner insurance.
In the past, parking along the south side of Oak Street has been a problem for many area residents during the school year. Although parking was restricted to 2-hours, residents have complained about blocked driveways, zero visibility when trying to back out, confrontations with students, and delivery and visitor vehicles parking in the traffic lane in order to gain access to Unity Christian High School.
After meeting with the Safety Committee and City Commission, parking will change along Oak Street. Before the new school year begins this fall, new parking signs will be placed along Oak Street stating, “No Parking 7 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.”
That’s right! The BATmobile is coming to Hudsonville. Don’t expect, however, a sleek, black futuristic vehicle with fins. The BATmobile is a full-size conversion van that will be roaming the streets of Hudsonville equipped with a DataMaster Breathalyzer, laser fax machine, and mobile data terminal.
The function of the BATmobile is to conduct on-site breath testing for drunk-driving arrests. In addition, the BATmobile will be used to inform the community at events, i.e., fairs, festivals, parades, and schools, about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Through a grant from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, the BATmobile was purchased by the Holland Police Department with the condition that the vehicle would be shared with neighboring municipalities such as Hudsonville Police Department, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department, Allegan County Sheriff’s Department, and the State Police in West Michigan.
PRIMARY ELECTION is the process of elimination and nomination of candidates that filed a valid petition for an elected public office to be voted and elected to public office in the General Election, November 6, 2001.
The following individuals filed valid NOMINATING PETITIONS for seeking election to the public office of City Commissioner:
| Ward 1 |
Gary L. Raterink, |
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| Ward 1 |
Truman T. Petty, |
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| Ward 2 |
Kristin B. Ritsema, |
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| Ward 3 |
Larry Brandsen, |
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| Ward 3 |
Richard W. Honholt |
The Mayoral term of office is four (4) years and the current term does not end until 2003.
When no more than twice the number of persons to be elected have filed a valid petition with the City Clerk, a Primary Election is not necessary or required by City Charter, Chapter III, Section 3.4 (Primary Elections).
The candidate’s names will appear on the City General Election ballot November 6, 2001.
Deadline to register to vote in the City General Election is October 9, 2001. If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to register again. If your address has changed since the last election, you need to register again. This may be done at the City Clerk’s Office or the Secretary of State Office.
Should you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk at 669-0200, Extension 412.
Around the whole state, news of the Gary Byker Memorial Library’s recent "Step-Up & Sit-Down Decorated Chair Auction" is causing librarians to sit up and take notice. Thanks to the talents and generosity of our citizens, the library raised $11,694 in one night alone to purchase new books, videos and other materials for the children’s area.
Over 100 chairs of all shapes and sizes were decorated by local artists, students, and celebrities, including Lauren Stanton and Bill Steffen of WZZM-TV, Senator VanRegenmorter and Representative Kuipers. There were also children's rockers, benches, potty chairs, and stools. Seats were painted, decoupaged, woodburned, quilted – we even had chairs made out of horseshoes, tree branches and stained glass!
The chair that raised the most money ($500) was done by a student, Anne Prins and featured a wooden tree silhouette and hand painted ivy. An award was given to Elizabeth Austhof for her chair that received the most votes for the "People's Choice Award." This chair "Art Gecko" was named after a children's book and featured stained glass geckos.
Many people besides the artists contributed to the success of the evening – including our “professional” auctioneers Rich Kornoelje and Alden Jelsema, decorators Shelli Boomsma, and Ruth Jelsema, and organizers Crystal Unema and Pauline Luben. The Friends of the Library also helped by serving great food provided by Family Fare and Signatures. The response from the community was extremely heart warming and the Library wishes to sincerely thank all those who participated.
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