2019 PROPOSED BUDGET

An overview of the City's proposed budget

About this Page

The City of Kalamazoo is partnering with OpenGov to bring our financial information to our community in a format that is easy to use and understand.


This page highlights financial information included in our 2019 Proposed Budget.


The 2019 Budget is subject to change until the budget is formally adopted by the City Commission. The City Commission is scheduled to adopt the 2019 budget on January 22, 2019 in its regularly scheduled Business Meeting.


Follow this link to find the full 2019 Proposed Budget.


City Funds

The City's Budget will be adopted at a fund level. A fund is a self-balancing set of accounts that have a common purpose. Fund accounting emphasizes accountability rather than profitability.


Further information about the City's funds can be found in the Budget Policies in the 2019 Proposed Budget.


2019 Proposed Budget:

All Funds

The City's total proposed budgeted expenses for 2019 is $181.7 million. This total budget is divided between Governmental funds of $112.6 million and Enterprise funds of $69.1 million.



Information in other financial years can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget Annual Transparency Report found here.

The General Fund

The General Fund is the primary operating fund for the City of Kalamazoo. In this fund, the City budgets for the City Commission Appointees, which includes the City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney and City Internal Auditor. Other Governance departments include Management Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and 311 Customer Service. Community Departments include Public Safety, Public Services, Community, Planning and Economic Development, and Parks and Recreation.


The General Fund expenses are supported by revenues from property taxes, state funding, charges for interdepartmental services and the Foundation for Excellence.

Where does the General Fund get its resources?

The 2019 Budget includes $64 million of revenues in the General Fund. The General Fund collects property taxes as the primary source of revenues. The City was able to reduce property tax rates in 2017 thanks to generous contributions from the Foundation for Excellence, which is the second largest source of General Fund resources. Intergovernmental Contributions from the State provide the third largest resource.



Information in other financial years can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget Annual Transparency Report found here.



How does the General Fund use its resources?

The total 2019 proposed expenditures for the General Fund is $64.8 million, of which $55.3 million is used in operations.


Community Programs are the largest share of General Fund expenses, using $41.8 million of the General Fund resources.


Information in other financial years can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget Annual Transparency Report found here.

What departments use the General Fund resources?


The largest department in the City's General Fund is Public Safety (Combined Police and Fire), with a proposed budget of approximately $31.2 million. Public Services is the second largest department with total proposed expenses of $5.1 million.


Information in other financial years can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget Annual Transparency Report found here.

How are resources divided between personnel, operations and other?


Personnel costs is the General Fund's largest expense. Operating costs include the supplies and services that are needed to carry out operations.


Information in other financial years can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget Annual Transparency Report found here.

General Fund 5 Year Fiscal Plan

Graph showing total revenues and expenses through 2024

The General Fund 5 Year Fiscal plan anticipates expenses keeping pace the available resources.


Detailed information on the City's 5 year fiscal plan can be found in the 2019 Proposed Budget on page 50.

General Fund 5 Year Fund Balance

Graph showing target to projected fund balance through 2024

The City's budget policies target to maintain 15% of its operating revenues as a fund balance in the General Fund. The 5 Year Fiscal Plan for the General Fund meets the target fund balance.