Currently, the multi-million dollar debt the school district holds is being slowly serviced by a millage off of non-homestead property values, including businesses and apartments.
In a prepared statement read during Monday’s meeting, Mayor Paige stated that the need for the committee was driven by the lack of new negotiations with Norton Shores and Fruitport.
“Financially, this is something we can work with if we get off that four year clock [set by the Fruitport termination notice],” said city manager Natasha Henderson. “This is something we can plan with for now.”
Councilwoman McGlothin argued that starting with Fruitport’s notice in April 2011 that it was exiting its water contract with Muskegon Heights, the township’s authority to negotiate a new deal alongside Norton Shores ceased to exist.