Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell and Portage Mayor Peter Strazdas say the cities will continue looking for ways to cooperate, improve service and save money.
The mayors of the two cities were both re-elected earlier this month to two year terms. Hopewell won Kalamazoo’s first separate election for mayor. In previous elections, he became mayor by winning the most votes of all city commission candidates. Strazdas was unopposed in his re-election bid in Portage. The two mayors sat down with WMUK’s Gordon Evans to discuss the issues facing both cities and the region.
Hopewell says there are lots of opportunities for local governments to share services. He says some of those collaborations can save money, but the mayor of Kalamazoo says there can also be improved service from those efforts.
Strazdas says all local governments are in the “new norm.” He says money can’t move across city or township lines. But the Portage mayor says a new central dispatch authority and a countywide transit authority both show how local governments can work together on regional issues.
Hopewell says the biggest challenge Kalamazoo faces is an ongoing structural deficit. But he says all cities are facing challenges because of how the state provides funding to local governments.
Strazdas says he wants Portage to get back on track, and growing again. He says the city has to provide services and bring in new business and jobs.
A blue-ribbon committee has been appointed to explore possible new ways to bring in revenue to the city of Kalamazoo. Hopewell says about $25-million has been cut from the city budget in the 12 years he has been on the city commission. Hopewell says the city has also has to look at the revenue side of the equation.
Portage recently decided to spend a budget surplus on paying down long-term debt and on road improvement projects. Strazdas says the state’s road funding package doesn’t provide much money for local road improvement projects.
Asked about the generally lower voter turnout for elections in odd-numbered years, both Hopewell and Stradas say they don’t favor moving elections. Strazdas says people will turn out and vote when they are engaged. He says Portage had a higher turnout this year in part because of two school millages on the ballot. Hopewell says holding elections during odd numbered years gives voters a chance to focus on their city. He says those elections could get lost during years when higher profile races are at the top of the ballot.
