CHELSEA – Chelsea City Council approved the city’s operating budget for fiscal year 2021 at a meeting on Tuesday, September 15.
The general fund budget of $ 11,525,487 represents a 3% increase in tax revenue over last year, Mayor Tony Picklesimer said.
With capital projects such as the splash pad, Chelsea Sports Complex Phase 2, and street paving, the budget stands at $ 14,179,057.
General fund expenses are expected to amount to $ 5.48 million.
Operating transfers, which include $ 3,504,655 for the city fire department, will total approximately $ 5.84 million.
The city expects a surplus of $ 200,423.
As fiscal 2020 concludes this month, city leaders are pleased with Chelsea’s financial situation amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have recovered well from closing,” Picklesimer said.
In other activities, the Board passed a resolution providing level I retirement benefits to level II plan members.
Board member Cody Sumners said Tier I gives members a higher percentage of their salaries during retirement and doesn’t limit their benefits.
The resolution applies to current and future employees of the city.
“These benefits we just voted for our city employees do not affect and do not apply to elected officials,” Picklesimer said. “We do not vote for ourselves at all. It is for our employees. “
Chelsea Fire Chief Joe Lee said Level I is a useful tool for recruiting and retaining employees.
“Not everyone understands Level I and what it means, but those of us in the pension system, especially the firefighters, understand it completely,” Lee said. “I would like to say thank you very much to this council and to the mayor. This is a really big problem for our young kids and for the new kids we will have in the future. “
Lee added that the Council’s approval of the budget means firefighters will be able to add more staff this year.
“The more people we have on duty each day, the safer this city is and the more efficient we are at handling calls,” Lee said. “On behalf of all firefighters, thank you to this council and mayor for all the hard work you do for us. You make it a great place to work and a great place to live. “
The Council also:
- Approved a proclamation declaring September 28 as Family Day and the week of September 27 to October 27. 3 like Family Week in Chelsea.
- Approved a proclamation declaring the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Chelsea.
- Resolution passed to authorize the mayor to execute a contract for HdL to perform a trade license order review and rate analysis.
