Council night

Friday, March 29 — The Lansing City Council will begin its weekly budget hearings Monday night, starting with fees and revenues proposed by the Bernero administration.

Mayor Virg Bernero presented his $112 million budget recommendation to the Council on Monday night. He wants to patch the projected $5 million deficit by charging Board of Water and Light customers for fire hydrant and streetlight services. The city pays BWL $5.5 million a year for those services out of the General Fund.

This fiscal year’s budget is projected to bring in nearly $8.7 million in charges for services, according to the administration. This year, Bernero has proposed bringing in $9 million. Charges for services include appeals and petitions, code compliance and recreation fees.

The mayor has recommended increasing fees for the city attorney’s diversion program, ambulance services and fire inspection, as well as several services provided by the Parks and Recreation and Public Service departments.

Council President Carol Wood says budget hearings will take place every Monday night during Committee of the Whole until the Council adopts a budget on May 20. Meetings start at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.