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Esky sets millage rate, utility hikes

ESCANABA — Escanaba City Council approved the city’s appropriations and tax levy ordinances for the upcoming fiscal year during a special meeting Wednesday. The approvals finalize the city’s budget planning.

During the meeting, a second reading and a public hearing were held for the city’s appropriations ordinance including the millage rate, which sits at 17 mills ($17 per every $1,000 of property of taxable value).

There were no changes in millage rates for the upcoming fiscal year, however, rises in utility rates were part of the proposed and approved budget numbers.

At council’s regular meeting last week, members unanimously voted in favor of the city’s $31 million operating budget for 2017-18, which included a 1.75 percent hike in electric rates, an 8.4 percent water rate increase, and an 8.99 percent wastewater rate rise.

Also included in the budget was a full-time police officer, a new garbage truck, a water disinfection byproduct system, and other upgrades and replacements.

At Wednesday’s meeting, council also approved the city’s tax levy ordinance to be implemented into the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which will take full effect on July 1.

On June 5, public hearings and adoptions are scheduled for electric, wastewater, water and trash ordinances. Although rates are increasing for electric, water, and wastewater, there will be no changes for garbage pick-up for the upcoming fiscal year.

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