GENESEE COUNTY -- Genesee County Board of Commissioners are proposing cutting nearly $1.3 million in funding to the Land Bank to balance the county's budget deficit.
The Land Bank boards up, mows grass and cuts weeds to more than 6,000 foreclosed homes. The funding cut would nearly wipe out the Land Bank.
"We have a little bit of money from a federal bank. But the total amount of properties that we'll be able to maintain is about 300 versus 6000 so you can imagine the impact," said Genesee County Treasurer and Land Bank Chairwoman Deb Cherry.
Cherry say the Land Bank is funded through penalties and interest on delinquent property taxes.
"I believe the money is from the revolving delinquent tax fund. By law, has a purpose for taking care of those properties," said Cherry.
Residents tell NBC25 there worried if the properties are not maintained, they will attract crime and become prime targets for arson.
"If you got a house that is not boarded up and people are going in and out making the place look worse. If they don't mow the yards if makes my neigborbood look bad," said Flint resident Marvin June.
"It helps keep our neighborhood clean. It helps keep crime down and it keeps people from doing drugs out of these abandoned homes," said Roger Fifield.
County board Chairman Jaime Curtis told The Flint Journal that the county is in deep trouble and the dire financial conditions require the funding cuts.
Cherry says she understand the county's predicament but plans to fight the cuts and come up with a compromise.
She says instead of taking away all the delinquent tax fund the county should just take any surplus money.
"I think we could be of some help so that we can continue the Land Bank activities and also help them get the budget adopted." said Cherry.
In the meantime residents can only hope.
"I think they should keep it going. I really do," said June.
"I think it's terrible. We got to keep our city clean," said Fifield.
