City Council preview: Public hearing set for Monday on Ann Arbor's $405M city budget

The Ann Arbor City Council is holding the hearing during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. inside city hall, 301 E. Huron St. Speakers do not need to sign up in advance.

• View the meeting agenda

The council is expected to vote later this month to approve a $405 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

That includes a general fund budget with $79.2 million in recurring revenues and $78.9 million in total expenditures.

• View the budget resolution

General fund recurring expenditures are decreasing by $500,266 and recurring revenues are increasing by $1.2 million, according to the budget resolution.

Some council members have indicated they're interested in amending the budget to add more police and fire positions, but details of those proposals haven't been released yet.

The budget as proposed by City Administrator Steve Powers in April would avoid layoffs in the fire department and increase the number of police officers on staff.

The budget resolution shows a decrease of 18 positions in the police department only because the city recently outsourced police dispatch services to Washtenaw County.

The city plans to levy 16.57 mills worth of property taxes in fiscal year 2012-13, which is a slight increase from the 16.47 mills levied in 2011-12. The increase is because city voters in November approved a new sidewalk millage that's now being levied.

• Watch tonight's meeting live here

In addition to tonight's public hearing, 1st Ward Council Members Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith are inviting residents to a community discussion about city issues, including the budget, taking place from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Northside Grill, 1015 Broadway St.

According to the event flier, topics include human services funding, downtown police patrols, fire department reorganization plans, Main Street from Summit to M-14, Huron River parks, a Newport Road pedestrian path and the proposed Wall Street parking structure.

Previous coverage:

• Ann Arbor council members working on plans to increase police and fire staffing

• Painting by numbers: the 2012-13 Ann Arbor city budget in pictures

• Ann Arbor officials seeking public feedback before closing two fire stations

• Ann Arbor budget plan increases staffing in police, holds line on fire