Council to discuss 2009-10 budget

Green buildings and the city’s proposed 2009-10 fiscal year budget are on the agenda for tonight’s East Lansing City Council meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Courtroom 2 of 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St.

Council members are scheduled to discuss the city’s budget during a work session at 5 p.m. in the District Court’s Council Conference Room. Following the work session, council will hold a public hearing on the city’s preliminary budget and tax rate for 2009-10.

Although the city’s budget is proposed to increase by more than 40 percent, a significant portion of that increase is tied to City Center II bonds that only will be issued if the project moves forward as planned, Mayor Vic Loomis said.

Council also is expected to pass a resolution to adopt the city’s Green Building Policy. The policy would require all buildings that are financed by economic development programs to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

City officials said the LEED requirement would apply only to buildings whose site plans haven’t been approved.

If the ordinance is approved, East Lansing will be the first Michigan city to tie economic incentives to green construction.

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