BENTON HARB()H "To de I ith thi current fin ncial problem e're current proj ectin rt fall in general fund of bout $347,000," Vance id, To try dIve the problem city official were givin th employ choice to t e 3 percent reduction in p Y or go to a four-day p y eek. P conference �ld April 14, in the LuI Lee Commi ion Chambers, Vance said all employees had voluntarily greed to take a 3 percent reduction in p Y for the period beginning April 10 I y-o ." Tume id re 11y doin pI . " He d the city oul h pe in t in the projecti e incom of $5.6 millio d not budget th hole thin but only bout $4.6 million and the city ould have $1 million in fund equity. e also 'd it ould put the city in better hape when there i negoitations and pay incre e. At the April 13, Benton Harbor City Commis ion meeting, John " Sam , Pre ident of the eneral employees union id they ppreciate the way the ne �tration is trying to wor with By MATIAS RI c.pIt!l N.w. Swvlc. LANSINO- The city of Benton Harbor will lose $93,900 in revenue- baring funds from the state if a pair of bills in the Legislature pass through the House and are signed by the governor. Revenue to local governments generally increase each year. However, in an attempt to h lp offset Michigan' projected $783 million deficit, $34 million in revenues statewide may be withh ld, The amount given to local governments would thus tay frozen at $1.07 billion. The lost revenu would be more damaging to Benton Harbor than many other cities that may have reserve funds and more table financial ituatiollS. "THE CUTS WOULD be more detrimental there (Benton Harbor) than a lot of places," id John Niemela, istant director of state affairs for the Michigan Municipal League and a lobbyist against the bill, "Everything we're being told i that it will pass." The bills pas ed the Senate last October and are currently in the House Appropriations Committee. Since Niemela and other have been lobbying, the propo ed loss in revenu - baring funds has been reduced from $57 million to about $34 million. . Niemela is not satisfied. "They're calling it a freeze in revenue- haring. We're calling it a cut," he said. Benton Harbor Finance Director Mike Vance said while the city could use additional money, it was not e�cted. "WE.WERE going to ume funding at about the same levels as last year," Vance d. "We were told funding would remain about the same." Benton Harbor is one of four financially-pinched are - Detroit, Ecorse and Royal 0 To hip re the others-that must keep in clo e con ct with Lans­ ing and have their budgeting d ci io approved by the Dep rtment of Treasury. The city meets with' financial advi ers and m t . ubmit annual five-year plans. Thi i to pl n to rep y about $2.3 million that was previously borrowed in emergency loan balancing; Vance aid about 50 percent of B nton Harbor' 6.5 million general fund com from poverty xe and about on -third ($1.87 million) i state aid. Th fact that both re e entially frozen h helped put Benton H rbor in a financial bind. Gov. John Engler signed a bill freezing property tax e m nts for 1�. . Th result i that the city m t be frugal with i pending. "WE'RE TRYING to' struggle bac to a reasonably sound fi cal be," Vance said. "Our big problem is continuing to deliver ervice based on our revenue situation." Vance said a total spending freeze on everything but necessities such as utilities and salaries has been instituted for the remainder of thi fi cal year, which ends June 30. Some po itions, uch as one each in the police and fire departrn nts, have been put on hold. Rep. Robert Brackenridge, R-St. Jo eph, aid al­ though Benton Harbor is in dire financial hape, the city is beginning to tum things around. Brackenridge pointed to the benefit of being the only "enterprise-zone" in th stat ,which gives pe­ cial incentives to businesses and has allowed more than 100 busine e to move into Benton Harbor or expand since 1986. He id the city has a new attitude and vision, but 8 10 of almo t $100,000 in tate revenue can only damage its prog "The gas that runs the city engine is dollars," he said. "Anything that takes away money hurts." " ercy Memorial edica1 Cen er is ponsoring a five-part educational eri for diabeti and their famili beginning Apri123 through May 21, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each Thursday. The erie i free, but pre-regi tr tion i required. Call 927-52f.17 on wee days between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. AID I omeone i warned about their property needed cleaned , they will be given 48 hours to do so, if not they owne expense. will be ued a ticket. In other busine s the "I'm going to be fair and 0 r commi ion pproved the my . ee if you need help in ppointmen of the City' Fire getting your property clean or Chief Dave Lincoln to be need tbedepartmcnt's tantin D' or of Public Wor t PaIb moving something. feel free �_""-II"rKecreation and appointed the call me, • Yarbrough d. But,"I Finance Director Michael Vance m putting my feet down on to be the Diredor of Customer anitatton and clean of the Services. Lu Buchana and Jarrell Poole relax after retuning from the ·Big Game-. Benton Harbors basketball team lost In the Class A state chB!"plonshlp to Detrolfs Pershing High School. (Photo By Bemlce Brown) Kalamazoo · Symphony Orch ra The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will bring its 70th · Anniversary Season to a clo e on · Friday, April 24, at 8 p.m. in the Miller Auditorium, Western : Michigan University. Yoshimi Takeda is music director and conductor, Tickets are, $20, $16, $10, and are available at the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office, 387-2300. Students and children receive a 50-percent discount on any seat purchased before 6 p.m. on April 24. Toughlov P r nt Su rt Group The Tonghlove Parent Support Group will m t Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the nursery of the Stevensville United M thodist Church, 5506 Ridge Road. · • African A e iean Ce eb ation 1992 �uskegon,�chigan 00 m., 9wlday 4:00p.m. egonCMc Production . . 10 &nday 4:00 p.m. Fr&IeI"ItheI Theeler, Mat! • 'BubbI ng Brown Sug.,' A Muekegon Civic Th t Production. C I 722-3852 for tidI.ct by Fri H.ckIfIt Lftnry. 18 Saturday 8:00 a.m.-5:oo p.m. egon Commtrlity College • Mayfest 1992: PRIDE In our Culture 28 Trureday 12:10-12:50 p.m. Muskegon Muaeum of Art • Brown Bag l.8cture : 'Romare ee.den' -FIlm 21 Friday 12:30 p.m. F,....,thaI T • PhIl CrMoh. MetropoI Opera T enor-P«fonnance F .... to Youlh, 1pOI.net � egon Comm Concert T8A r:r..n.t.I Civic * 'TheG1oIII W� Dave Daniels - Securiw Guard at HPCC· reads, the Michi an Citizen.' -Why aren't you? Subscribe Today! _._--------------------------------------------- D YES I want to subscribe to the Michigan Citizen OBILLME o $?1 for ONE YEAR ($5 )ff the new tand price) Nat: e Address .......... ...._......._ . Phone _ City ......,,__-_'"'!'-- __ ST Zip _ .0 o I Have Enclosed Payment 16 Special Senior Citizen, Price ($" 0 savings off newstand price) A Celebration or Life, Culture'" Achievement .. I I I I L I MaP to: Michigan Citizen, PO Box 03560, Highland Park, MI 48�03 .� YOU are invited to share in . the festivitie • A panlalUsting of the many public events is contained here. For more. information on these and other African Am riean C I bration 1992 v nt ,call th MCC . Community 5 me s Office t 777·02'6.