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BELLAIRE - The Village Council began reviewing the budget for the next fiscal year at their Jan. 2 meeting. They went through, line by line, the first draft of Bellaire's budget, asking questions and clarifications and discussing what the village needs and doesn't need in the coming year.

Though some parts of the budget look healthy, and there are less major projects in the coming year than last, the council is looking to cut in certain areas. Particularly, members of the council are concerned about the large park budget and are hoping to cut nearly $12,000 in parks this year.

Maintaining the many parks in Bellaire - Craven, Richardi, Holiday Acres, the Little League Fields, the AYSO soccer fields and the walking trails, is costing the village a pretty penny: more than $92,000 was budgeted last year.

Though the Parks Committee has looked at lots of options to help maintain the fields, like higher user fees, groups maintaining the fields, applying for grants or setting up a parks district, they are still trying to figure out exactly how to cut back.

But, the parks budget isn't the only place the village is looking to trim. "We're just trying to balance everything," Trustee Patricia Drollinger said. "Compared to street maintenance, the police department, water and sewer, parks seem more expendable."

Village President Butch Dewey said they are hurting because of state problems, revenue sharing and because the tax base is beginning to drop.

The village actually has a good reserve, but Dewey said it is important to plan for the future and save.

In this draft, the expected revenues for the general fund, $610,987, far exceed the projected expenses, $478,596.

"As you go through the budget, you'll see we're in pretty good shape," Council Executive/Clerk Janet Person said at the meeting. "We have quite a bit put away and it's starting to earn us a good amount of interest."

Person said that those numbers will be closer together as the council amends and makes suggestions for the budget.

Some projected expenses in the coming year could be paying off the parking lot, new plowing equipment and putting money into a fund balance to save for later.

The council discussed the status of the plow trucks at their meeting. One of the plow trucks used by the village is 30 years old. But, they did credit the DPW for maintaining the trucks for so long.

"The take excellent care of the equipment," Person said.

Last year's budget was $553,615, but there were a lot bigger projects. The village bought new property, upgraded facilities, put new roofs on three buildings and did work on Court Street and Broad Street.

"We're putting it away for a rainy day," Person said. "It's a maintenance year and we're trying to put money away for major projects in the future."

There are other areas of the budget the village feels can be cutback too. "Planning and zoning are cut way back," Dewey noted at the meeting. "We've done all those changes. We've had all those meetings."

Person also noted it's important to have a reserve because it is difficult to predict what will happen at the state level.

"The Legislature always decides they need more money, so we have to be ready for that," she said.

Drollinger also mentioned that unexpected costs come up, with street maintenance or other projects costing more than anticipated.

"We just never know," she said.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.