New fiscal year budget okayed for Birmingham

By Grace Lovins

In a unanimous decision, Birmingham city commissioners approved a $104.8 million annual budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year at their meeting on Monday, June 13.

Next fiscal year’s budget represents a $4.1 million increase from fiscal year 2021-2022, and includes a 1.7 percent overall millage decrease from the previous fiscal year.

The fiscal year will begin July 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2023.

For the eighth consecutive year, the city saw a decrease in the overall property tax levy and a decrease in the operating levy for the fifth consecutive year. The budget also maintains an approximate .3256 mill gap between the operating levy and the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment maximum.

Birmingham Director of Finance Mark Gerber stated that as a result of the actual taxable value received by Oakland County of $3 billion, there was a slight adjustment to the millage rates. The operating, refuse and debt levies slightly decreased ,while the library levy slightly increased.

The operating levy decreased from 10.7703 mills to 10.7655 mills. Refuse and debt levies decreased .0003 mills and .0002 mills respectively. The library levy increased by .0023 mills, or about .18 percent.

From the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget to the approved 2022-2023 fiscal year budget, the overall millage rate decreased 1.7 percent, or .2354 mills.

The 2022-2023 revenue budget shows an increase of $5.8 million, or 7.1 percent, from the 2021-2022 budget for a total of $88,272,020. The general fund has projected revenue and expenses of $43.4 million. Property taxes are projected to account for $30.3 million in revenues to the general fund; $3.1 million in charges for services; and $2.4 million in state grants.

The two major expenditures for the city's general fund are $10.4 million for public works, including streets, sidewalks, and water and sewer utilities, and $18.5 million for public safety. General government expenditures are projected at $5.8 million.