Finance

Overview | Budget | City Audit

Budget

2011 - 2012 Budget

June 7, 2011

Mayor Rob VerHeulen
Walker City Commissioners
City of Walker Citizens

I am pleased to submit to you the proposed annual operating budget for the City of Walker for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012. The budget has been prepared in accordance with the Michigan Uniform Budget Act (PA 2 of 1968 as amended), and Chapter IX, Section 9.2 of the City of Walker Charter. As is required by the State, each fund within the budget is balanced per estimated revenues and expenditures and available fund balances.

The total appropriation for all funds for FY12 is $17,873,769. The City’s General Fund (the largest of the seven funds) totals $12,421,710. It is based on a millage rate of 1.336 mills. Walker’s millage rate is one of the lowest of the twenty- one other municipalities that levy an income tax in the State of Michigan. Our property tax millage rate has remained at that level since the year 2000.

I am pleased to report that for the first time in the past four budget cycles, economic indictors appear to be pointing in a more positive direction. In spite of this news, we must continue to budget conservatively, and seek out further opportunities for collaboration and cooperation with both the private and public sectors. It is a fact that we cannot continue to do business in the same old way. We must forge ahead and look for new and better ways to deliver our services to our residents.

As always, the budget should be treated as a “fluid” document that will likely change as the year progresses. There are multiple internal and external factors that have the potential of affecting the budget (either positively or negatively) during the year. Our policy will be to remain cognizant of these factors and to proactively monitor changes at the national, state and local levels that may require consideration by the City Commission.

I would like to express my appreciation to the great employees of the City of Walker for the shared sacrifices they continue to make in order to ensure that our City remains fiscally strong and poised for sustainability and resiliency now and into the future. The staff remains committed to work cooperatively with the City Commission to maintain the quality of life for our citizens.

I especially acknowledge all of the department heads for their hard work and input during the preparation of the budget and their diligence in administering their respective budgets through- out the year. I would like to extend special thanks to our Finance Director, Cindy Mielke for her efforts. Her dedication and knowledge were extremely valuable and highly appreciated.

I would like to thank the Finance Committee and the entire City Commission for their support and guidance during this budget process. The Walker City Commission places great value in providing quality services in a cost effective manner to our residents and businesses. We will continue to work with the City Commission to keep Walker the great place it is to live, work and conduct business.

Sincerely,

Cathy L. Vander Meulen, City Manager

The City of Walker, Michigan
4243 Remembrance Rd. NW
Walker, MI 49534
(616)453-6311
City Hall hours: Mon-Thursday from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Closed Fridays
All information © 2012 City of Walker

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