Councilmember Mark Meadows at the Jan. 7, 2025 City Council meeting. At its Aug. 12 meeting, council opted to make Meadows liaison to a soon-to-be assembled Financial Health Review Team. (Brian Wells for ELi)

City Likely to Extend Application Period for Financial Health Review Committee After Drawing Few Applicants

Last month, the East Lansing City Council voted to create a Financial Health Review Committee with hopes that a team of volunteers would help uncover solutions for the city’s budgetary problems. 

However, the city saw little interest from community members looking to serve on the committee. The committee drew just two direct applicants. A third person applied to be on the city’s police oversight commission and slotted the financial health review team under “other interests” in their application. The committee is designed to be made up of seven members. 

At tonight’s (Sept. 9) City Council meeting, there is an item on the consent agenda to extend the application deadline to Oct. 15. The initial application period was open from Aug. 13-29. 

City leaders, council candidates have high hopes for financial review team. 

This spring, City Council approved a budget for the current fiscal year that carries a more than $2 million deficit. Before passing the budget, city leaders were told the city needs to change the trajectory of its finances, or face bankruptcy. 

The committee will review the city budget and look for ways to eliminate the deficit–with a special focus on major expenses, pensions, benefits and development incentives, among other things. 

The resolution that created the committee says the city is seeking applicants with a background in accounting, finances, or managing pensions and benefits. 

The committee will complete its work within six months of its first meeting, unless an extension is granted by City Council. City Councilmember Mark Meadows has been appointed to serve as council’s liaison to the committee. 

Shortly after the 2023 election seated three new council members, council set a goal to create the Financial Health Review Committee. Additionally, several of the candidates running in this year’s City Council election said they planned to lean on the committee to help make decisions on the budget. 

The city also assembled a Financial Health Review Committee in 2016. That group was made up of 11 members and made 42 recommendations after a nearly 10-month review period. 

The disappointing applicant pool is a far cry from the interest shown in a Charter Review Committee the city formed last year. That committee drew 28 applicants, though six were deemed ineligible because they already sat on a city board or commission.