Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will deliver his eighth State of the City address Monday night.
Bernero will speak at the historic Grand Trunk Western Railroad train depot, a century-old landmark that’s undergoing a major refurbishment by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. The mayor will tout the progress of the co-generation power plant that’s rising to life nearby in Lansing’s REO Town neighborhood, as well as other successes.
While Bernero says the city’s outlook is good, he faces a $9 million budget deficit that he says he’s confident he can rein in.
“A lot of the low-hanging fruit is gone, but I can promise you we will have a balanced budget, I can promise you there will be some pain," Bernero says. "There will be some tough medicine, some tough decisions; but we will get the job done and we will continue to promote the quality of life in Lansing.”
Bernero appointed a city financial review team late last year to recommend new approaches to chronic deficits. The team is expected to make its report in March.