EL Official: Library Millages Could Begin Pause in Tax Hikes

The East Lansing City Council votes tonight on a proposed budget that could give residents some short-term relief from tax hikes.

The $64-million spending plan for 2013 includes a one-mill property tax increase for library operations and asks voters to approve a similar measure in November for fiscal year 2014.

Mayor Pro-Tem Nathan Triplett says the millages could temporarily bring years of belt-tightening to an end.

"We can begin to seriously look at stabilizing the city's budget, not necessarily going through this year-to-year process of trying to cut things back to accommodate declining values," he says.

Triplett says future deficits would be "very manageable" if voters approve the November millage.