Ann Arbor service area leaders have shared their requests for budget changes with City Council. Changes discussed Monday night include adding three police officers, two additional fire-fighters, and $80,000 for transitioning the public art program to a new model.
Police Chief John Seto says the three additional officers will help him meet City Council objectives of more community policing without negatively impacting patrol and the detective bureau. He doesn't yet have specifics for how these officers would be used.
Chief Financial Officer Tom Crawford says the city is anticipating about $900,000 dollars in savings. He says the savings are led by lower pension expenses and health care than budgeted, which combined are saving the city about $600,000.
Crawford recommends City Council add about 84-thousand dollars to the future retiree health care trust fund because revenues are projected to grow by 1.5 percent, but the trust needs 2 percent growth to be fully funded in about 25 years.
Click here for the budget impact summary of service area recommendations.
— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
