Green Oak Township Trustees Reduce Millage Requests

Concluding that voters felt the amount of the was too high, the Green Oak Township Board Wednesday night voted to go back to the voters with a lowered millage requests. The issues will be presented on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. 

The new proposals approved unanimously by township trustees last night include a 2.38-mill police levy and a 1.77-mill fire department levy, both for four years. The two millages combined would result in $126 extra per year on the average resident's tax bill.

"We need to get the message out that, one, we are having an election and, (two), why," Supervisor Mark St. Charles said.

On Aug. 2, a 2.5-mill police request and a 2-mill fire department proposal, which would have hiked taxes by $163, were defeated. The police proposal was defeated 840-686 and the fire millage lost, 796-733. The issues - had they passed - would have continued the current levels of police and fire service for the next five years.  

The existing 1.49-mill police levy and 1.40-mill fire levy are set to expire on Dec. 31.   

According to Township Treasurer Susan Daugherty, if the new police millage request passes, it would cost the average property owner - with a home whose taxable value is $101,400 - a total of $241 per year in taxes. That compares to a current average tax bill for police services of $152, or an $89 increase.

The fire millage request - if it passes - would cost the average homeowner $179 a year in taxes for fire department services. That compares to $142 currently for the average homeowner and would mark a $37 increase.   

Township officials say the reason they felt compelled to ask for a higher millage amount was because the current millage rates are bringing in less revenue than before, due to declining property values. At the same time, they say "fixed" costs, such as fuel, have risen over the past five years. 

Police Chief Bob Brookins told the board that his department would be able to keep operating substantially as it does now with a reduced millage of 1.77 mills, but would have to eliminate two patrol cars, bringing the number down to six.

In addition, new equipment purchases, such as a new patrol car scheduled to be purchased this year, would have to be deferred.

"We've got to do more with less," Brookins said. However, Brookins added there would be no layoffs, and the force would remain at its current complement of 14 officers, including himself and the deputy chief. 

Township Fire Chief Bill Steele said in the wake of the millage defeat this month, some reductions have already taken place, including eliminating one full-time firefighter (out of three). The fire department has a total of 27 firefighters, the majority of them paid on-call, part-time firefighters.

Steele added the firefighter's union, the Michigan Association of Firefighters, has made wage and benefit concessions under the current contract. The department has also postponed purchase of two new fire engines to replace aging fire trucks.  

Steele added the firefighter's union, the Michigan Association of Firefighters, has made wage and benefit concessions under the current contract. The department has also postponed purchase of two new fire engines to replace aging fire trucks.  

Steele said his department has explored the possibility of merging with another area department, but an assessment revealed "both a lack of significant cost savings and a likelihood of service reductions." 

Township officials said at the meeting they kept a discreet distance with the Aug. 2 proposals, not wanting to appear to be endorsing them, which would be illegal. "There's a fine line between informing and promoting," St. Charles said.  

But St. Charles said the board, while it could not endorse the new millage requests, would be derelict in its duty if it didn't at least provide information on the issues.  

"I think there are some very valuable lessons here," he said.

St Charles said the township's stance of erring on the side of caution may have involved a little too much distancing, and the voters didn't have enough information when they went to the polls. Still, St. Charles said the 11 percent of registered voters who did vote made it clear they didn't want 2.5 mills for police or 2.0 mills for fire services. 

Township Trustee Richard Everett disagreed, saying he favored putting two issues on the Nov. 8 ballot for each department, including the defeated Aug. 2 proposals and the lower amounts ultimately approved. 

However, Clerk Michael Sedlak said he had posed that same question to Michigan Townships Association officials, who advised against it. "(The MTA said) it could be challenged as an advisory vote," Sedlak said.

After lengthy discussion, a motion to place proposals on the ballot that gave voters "A" and "B" options was defeated, 4-3. The subsequent motion to ask for 2.38 mills and 1.77 mills for police and fire, respectively, passed unanimously.  

Walt Ernst, a township resident for 46 years, said after the meeting he preferred Everett's proposal. "They should have allowed (voters) two choices," Ernst said. "I've had several people come up to me and say 'they didn't give me a choice.'"