Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning July 2006 » Shelby Twp. starts pinching pennies to stave off deficit « Previous Next »
Top of pageBottom of page

Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1876
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 134.215.223.211
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 8:48 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here's an interesting tidbit from the Freep about Shelby Twp. The rapidly sprawling township will start running a deficit in 2012. This is in a community adding several hundred homes a year, with most of those homes being well north of the $300k mark.

Just one more thing to add to the pot showing that sprawl and current municipal financing via the state is completely unsustainable.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP: Board planning to take a hard look at spending

The Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Thursday to discuss spending practices.

Treasurer Paul Viar, who added the item to the agenda, said the township is expected to go from a budget surplus to a deficit by 2012.

During the meeting, he will raise cost-cutting ideas, including consolidation of some services and outsourcing of others. Cell phone use and postage costs are also worth evaluating, he said.

At the meeting, which will be at 6 p.m. in the lobby conference room of the municipal building, 52700 Van Dyke, the board will also discuss restructuring the Human Resources Department.

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20060823/NEWS04/ 608230467
Top of pageBottom of page

Baltgar
Member
Username: Baltgar

Post Number: 24
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 67.38.83.5
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 9:04 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am not surprised. Like you stated above, the municipal finance program is completely out of wack. It is one of, if not the worst in the Country. With Proposal A, the Headlee Amendment and now the danger of "Stop Over Spending" Proposal this fall, municipalities will have no money left. Don't people realize that municipalities need taxes to operate. They have no other way to get money. Some major changes need to be made to maintain the viability of this State.
Top of pageBottom of page

Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 220
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 69.136.155.244
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 9:22 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That article makes no mention about the revenue side of the budget equation, it only mentions that the trustees want to look at the spending side of their budget. If you keep adding expenses without matching the revenue growth, a deficit will eventually occur. The Township trustees are projecting a possible deficit situation five years from now, based on current spending patterns and expenditures, which include things like fireworks shows, pedestrian overpasses and lawsuit settlements.

Hardly an indictment of sprawl or the municipal finance system.... move along, nothing to see here.
Top of pageBottom of page

Dnvn522
Member
Username: Dnvn522

Post Number: 134
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 204.24.64.25
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 11:14 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What year do you think it'll be before Detroit looks at their 2012 budget?
Top of pageBottom of page

Miketoronto
Member
Username: Miketoronto

Post Number: 272
Registered: 07-2004
Posted From: 65.92.150.37
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 11:20 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This all shows that what is needed is the CITY OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT. Its time for revenue sharing in Metro Detroit.
Top of pageBottom of page

Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1880
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 134.215.223.211
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 1:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So the lawsuits, pedestrian overpasses (including maintenance and rebuilding), fireworks shows, etc. will disappear magically after the township is built out?

The problem with your logic Mikeg is that Shelby Twp. hasn't even built the infrastructure needed for the twp. today, let alone 2012 and they can't even afford the inadequate infrastructure that they currently have. The expenses Shelby Twp. has will only escalate as time goes on.

To further the "municipal finance is broken" theme Shelby Twp., like most places in Macomb County, already staffs their government on the lean side. So even though they are keeping their legacy costs low, they still can't afford to keep what small staffing they have.

Shelby is also doing everything a municipality is supposed to do in Michigan to keep tax revenues up: build new upscale houses like crazy. They've got a long way to go before they've even completely built out the twp.
Top of pageBottom of page

Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku

Post Number: 673
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 69.212.56.84
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 2:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I grew up in the area, and I must say it is the worst. Every road is 2 lanes except for M59 (Hall rd) which is constant traffic. That area is the result of bad planning, and to many people crammed into an area.
Top of pageBottom of page

Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok

Post Number: 2689
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 4.229.105.143
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 3:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Chitaku, I hadn't driven thru Shelby in like 15 years. I was shocked getting off the M-53 Freeway at 23 Mile and still found Van Dyke as a 2 lane road.

Bad planning is correct!
Top of pageBottom of page

Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 224
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 69.136.155.244
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The actual road situation in that area is much different than the picture painted by the previous posters.

Mound Road - four lanes, boulevard
Van Dyke - five lanes, south of 23 Mile
M53 - four lanes, limited access
Schoenherr - five lanes
23 Mile Road - five lanes
26 Mile Road - four lanes divided

Yes, these are are all located in the southern portion of the township, but that is where most of the businesses and population is located

As far as Chitaku's accusation of "poor planning", what is "broken" is the state's enabling legislation that places limits on planning, zoning and subdivision regulations at the local level.

The only "levers" that a municipality has to "pull" for controlling the amount and location of new development are the installation of water and sewer lines. But thanks to the availability of service from the Detroit Water and Sewer Department, the local control "lever" amounts to only providing the proverbial "last mile" of connections.

Thanks to the State Courts, the local municipality cannot legally deny a rezoning or development if it is in line with the municipality's Master Plan, nor can they require a developer to provide any public road widening that will be needed as a result of their development (other than deceleration/passing lanes at the entrance to a subdivision).

(edited to correct the number of lanes)

(Message edited by Mikeg on August 23, 2006)
Top of pageBottom of page

Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku

Post Number: 674
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 69.136.147.97
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mike, Shelby, Macomb and Northern Clinton Township are bad planning. Subdivisions with one entrance/exit jammed in between a bunch of 2 lane roads is not my idea of good planning. I lived in south SCS mack cooridor for 3 years and now I live in Woodbridge and these old style neighborhoods are much smarter. Each has many different ways to get to different streets limiting traffic. In the Clinton/Shelby/Macomb twp. area traffic is terrible because 19 mile and 21 mile are 2 lane roads. The majority of people who live in the area drive Hall Road (m-59) beause it is 3 and 4 lanes, which creates hell. It seems like they built and built without thinking of the problems.
Top of pageBottom of page

Bearinabox
Member
Username: Bearinabox

Post Number: 36
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 69.209.168.255
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I don't think the two-lane roads are the issue. Widening roads seems to cause traffic to increase, keeping congestion levels remarkably constant before and after the widening. Widening for the most part facilitates more sprawl rather than solving the existing problem, which is that people want to live "in the country" without having to drive more than 500 feet to get to a McDonald's or a Wal-Mart or suffering the indignity of living in a 5-year-old house. Oh, and Mikeg, 26 Mile is the northern border of Shelby Township.
Top of pageBottom of page

Hysteria
Member
Username: Hysteria

Post Number: 1204
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 152.163.100.8
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think Chitaku hit the nail on the head. The horrible lack of planning applies especially to most subdivisions built during and after the 1970s.
Top of pageBottom of page

Jt1
Member
Username: Jt1

Post Number: 7772
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 66.19.17.68
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How is it bad that they are looking forward on their budget and potential downfalls.

They are being proactive with their finances. Detroit could learn a lesson from the idea.
Top of pageBottom of page

Baltgar
Member
Username: Baltgar

Post Number: 26
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 67.38.83.5
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 5:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It is bad because as one of the fastest growing municipalities in recent years they should not have to be concerned about money. However, the State municipal financing system is creating budget shortfalls in every community. The bad State economy is making things even worse.

MikeG - Yes, planning rules in the State need to change. Communities are very limited in controlling growth at an acceptable rate.

Also, we need to establish more regional planning.
Top of pageBottom of page

Johnnny5
Member
Username: Johnnny5

Post Number: 344
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 71.227.95.4
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 5:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"What year do you think it'll be before Detroit looks at their 2012 budget"

2015?
Top of pageBottom of page

Mikeg
Member
Username: Mikeg

Post Number: 225
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 69.136.155.244
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 5:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I agree with you Bearinabox on the impact that road widening has. However, I'm not sure what your point is about 26 Mile Rd. Yes, it is only partially in Shelby Twp., but so is M-59, which was erroneously pointed out earlier as bring the only road in the township that wasn't 2 lanes.

As far as subdivision planning goes, the 1970s coincided with the move away from rectilinear subdivision street design. Curvy streets cause drivers to go slower, which is a good thing in a residential area. Studies have shown that limiting the number of subdivision street access points along major roads improves traffic flow and reduces accidents on the major roads.

Your are all certainly entitled to your opinions, but there are sound reasons behind a lot of these subdivision design features.

Less-than-optimal subdivision designs can result when a developer brings a small or poorly-shaped parcel in for subdivision platting approval. The municipality has no say in the size or location of the parcel, as long as it can be laid out with streets and lots that meet the subdivision regulations, they must approve it or face the possibility of a judge approving it as submitted or with changes.

JT1, last I heard, Detroit was still trying to figure out how big their budget deficit was for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th.
Top of pageBottom of page

Bob
Member
Username: Bob

Post Number: 1082
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 152.163.100.8
Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 6:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The suburban design of subdivisions is also seen as a crime deterrent because criminals like to be able to have many points of getaway, which they have in the grid set-up, but less in the land of cul-de-sacs (so says the theory).
Top of pageBottom of page

Bvos
Member
Username: Bvos

Post Number: 1884
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 134.215.223.211
Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 8:58 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mikeg, recent studies show that cul-de-sacs actually increase pedestrian/car accidents in and around subdivisions as well as greatly reduce pedestrian access to nearly everything. A lot of cities across the country are now greatly limiting or prohibiting cul-de-sacs.

Limiting access points, while good for lowering traffic on residential streets, greatly increases traffic on main and arterial streets. This sort of setup that is prevelant all over Macomb Co. is directly attributable to the horrible traffic there. You have no choice but to take the already congested road if there is an accident or if you want to grab some milk and bread at the corner store.

Also the crime deterent thing of cul-de-sacs has never been proven. Just one of those scare tacticts to get suburbanites to sign on the dotted line.

I do agree that municipalities in Michigan need to be given more control over land use. However I think it would be better to do so on a metropolitan wide basis since the choices made in Sterling Heights affect Shelby Twp and so on. Part of the land use planning problems we face today is because every 6 mile by 6 mile twp. or city views things as their own little fiefdom. They don't care about how their choices affect their neighbor and visa-versa. Stronger and more thought out master planning at the city/twp. and county level would really help the situation. Also giving the county more teeth/staffing to actually do more than rubber stamp things would do a lot as well.

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.