KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo city commissioners have approved their 2026 budget and done it a few weeks earlier than usual this year.
Commissioners got the $344-million spending plan a few weeks earlier this year because of the retirement date of former City Manager Jim Ritzema.
Mayor Dave Anderson says he is “very, very happy that this year we’re getting this done at the close to beginning it is January as possible, that will really help our departments function in a way that they should, know what the budgets are.”
Commissioner Chris Praedel says the budget includes the Home Share program, something he has been advocating for over a year to allow homeowners who may have room to spare to accept transitional tenants.
“It’s a meaningful way that we can create more capacity of housing in our community safe housing for folks and then hopefully also drive down costs of housing because you’re creating that excess capacity.”
He says its affordable housing that already exists and just isn’t being utilized.
“I think it’s a really innovative way to address housing and it’s something that I’ve been really passionate about and I’m grateful to city staff for making that happen from our last retreat,” says Praedel.
The program would help match tenants to residents willing to share their homes.
By the end of this budget year, the city is on schedule to have replaced 75% of its lead service lines, putting Kalamazoo well ahead of most other communities.
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