By Scott Pohl, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-959809.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Lansing mayor Virg Bernero will present his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year to the city council tonight.
WKAR's Scott Pohl reports.
AUDIO:
In preparing his budget, mayor Bernero faces the intangibles of an upcoming 4-mill tax increase proposal, and the likely reduction of state revenue sharing dollars. He says he must plan for the worst, and will submit a budget that's $20 million smaller than a year ago.
Bernero says public safety can no longer be held harmless. Officers on patrol could be reduced from 19 to 15 at any one time, and as many as three fire stations will have to close.
In his words, "there will be pain."
"I have to build a budget based on what I know I have today," Bernero says, "so that's what the budget will be. It will be bare knuckles, bare bones, worst case scenario."
Bernero says he hates to lay people off, and hopes the millage proposal will pass on May 3rd, and that the city will earn back some state revenue sharing dollars in the year to come, but he can't bank on it.
The city council must finalize a budget by May 16th.