Bay City School Board
The Bay City School Board is currently wrestling with what it will
ask the residents of the Bay City School District for a new school bond
proposal.
A 76 million-dollar proposal was soundly defeated at the June, 2001 school
board elections. It was turned down by a 3 to 1 margin with many different
reasons offered for its defeat. Two brand new middle schools were being
offered along with major upgrades at both of Bay City's public high schools.
The School Board has held several meetings to discuss what really needs to
be addressed for the new bond proposal. They are targeting a possible
March, 2002 bond request.
It will surely be a scaled back request to the voters of the Bay City
School District, which currently serves about 10,500 students.
Bay County Commission
The Bay County Commission and County Executive Thomas Hickner will
be facing some tough financial decisions over the next few weeks in
developing a 2002 budget for Bay County.
With anticipated funding cutbacks from the State of Michigan, County
Executive Hickner will have to recommend some changes for 2002.
The County Commission has been reviewing the budget for about one month and
will be looking to approve the 2002 budget by December 31st.
The biggest decision that the County Board will have to make is what
support it will pledge to the Bay County Civic Arena. The indoor ice
arena located in Bangor Township has been up and running for 4 years.
However, the County has had to make an annual contribution to help the Ice
Arena meet its bills.
The average contribution to the Ice Arena for the last four years has been
about $125,000 dollars per year. About the same amount that has been
requested this year.
Another projected cutback will be the funding of a public health nurse to
go into all of the schools in Bay County. Some other minor capitol
improvements for the Bay County Fairgrounds appear to be on the chopping
block.
Otherwise Bay County government appears to be in good health for 2002.
Bay City Commission
With four fresh new faces (out of 9) on the Bay City Commission it
will be interesting to see what direction the Commission will take.
Bob Katt (6th Ward) was re-elected to be the City Commission President in
2002. The City Commission also recently gave City Manager Jim Palenick an
above average rating on his performance review. However, he did not
receive a pay raise or contract extension. He did receive a one-time bonus
of $2,000 dollars.
The biggest task facing this City Commission will be to see if it can make
the long talked about Hotel/Conference Center a reality. Bay County early
in 2001 turned over all ties to the project to the City of Bay City who
assured the County that they could make this project happen. Things have
been happening at a slow pace during the rest of 2001.
The Bay City Commission will have to pick up the pace during 2002 or be in
the risk of losing some of the government grants it already has to help
finance the project.
The whole project will come in around 24 million dollars to finance the
Hotel/Conference Center and parking structure. Bay City could add another
jewel to its already bright waterfront.
It will take some bold and educated leadership to keep the downtown and
waterfront the jewel that it is.
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