KINGSFORD — Kingsford residents will see another slight drop in the millage rate for the next fiscal year starting on July 1.

The levy this year will total 20.68 mills, or $20.68 per $1,000 of taxable value, down from 20.7 mills in 2024, 20.8 in 2023 and 21.2 mills in 2022.

The operating levy remains at 18 mills and the police and fire pension levy will remain at 2 mills. The public works levy, approved in 1997 for general obligation bonds for the new public works building, will drop to 0.068 mills.

The city expects to collect $2,915,000 in property taxes.

Utility rates will be higher due to sewer and water replacement projects in the city. The first project, in the Kingsford Heights, was completed last year. The second project, which encompasses another portion of the Heights and parts of Ford Addition, is underway. The city plans to continue to replace aging water and sewer lines in the future to comply with a state mandate that pipes with lead must be replaced by 2038.

A total of $8,849,119 is available in the general fund, with anticipated revenues of $5,197,300. Last year the city had $7,994,845 budgeted, with $5,048,295 for revenues and an estimated fund balance of $2,946,550

The city has budgeted $4,921,399 for expenditures for 2025-26. This would provide a fund balance of $3,927,720. The city budgeted $4,759,037 for expenditures last year.

Some other budget highlights:

— The Major Street Fund balance is expected to be at $924,775 in June 2026, up from $885,000 this year. The Major Street Fund anticipates revenues of $694,000, with $610,000 coming from state transportation funds. Expected expenditures are budgeted at $654,225, which includes $185,000 budgeted for maintenance, $150,000 for maintenance paving, $175,000 for winter maintenance.

— The Local Street Fund has expenditures budgeted at $860,250, up from $461,112 and revenues of $307,000. The city estimates the fund balance will drop from $841,000 to $287,750. Some of the budget expenditures for next year include $500,000 for maintenance paving, $190,400 for routine maintenance and $142,350 for winter maintenance.

— The Department Of Public Works Facility Fund has $159,037 available for appropriation and expenditures of $155,394. Last year’s totals were $189,540 and $154,174, respectively.

— The Capital Improvements Fund has $10,049 in the fund balance with no projects scheduled next year.

— The sewer fund was projected to have $1,306,000 in revenues and $982,506 in expenditures, with a fund balance of $343,494, up from $20,000.

— The water fund has anticipated revenues of $1,657,500 and expenditures of $1,514,004. Anticipated available reserves are $1,385,332 by June 30, 2026.