When Addison Township voters go to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 8 we strongly urge them to vote YES on the fire/EMS millage and YES on the police millage.
For Addison’s fire department the eight-year, 0.75-mill tax request represents about one third of the existing $701,415 operating budget.
The $244,537 this millage would generate in its first year alone represents a huge and vital chunk of the department’s overall revenue.
Losing it would most likely result in a reduction of the department’s full-time employees, of which there are only five to begin with ? four firefighters/paramedics (including Chief George Spencer) plus an administrative assistant.
Any layoffs on such a small staff would no doubt have a negative impact on the department and the quality of service residents receive.
Such a large financial hit would also put the community’s Advance Life Support (ALS) program in jeopardy. Addison’s ALS units currently arrive on scene within six minutes 95 percent of the time.
Fewer paramedics coupled with a third less funding could make it nearly impossible run ALS ambulances 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Bottom-line, we feel the department deserves a ‘yes? vote because the fire board and chief have always run a tight ship financially.
It’s definitely a no frills, bare-bones operation.
Yes, this tax proposal does represent a slight increase due to the Headlee Amendment. The millage was originally approved at 0.75 mill in August 2002, but Headlee rollbacks brought it down to 0.7017 mill by December 2005 when the millage expired.
But remember, the 0.75 mill on the ballot is what voters were willing to approve four years ago, so we see no reason for them to reject it this time.
Addison voters will also be asked to approve an eight-year, 3.5-mill tax proposal to fund the township’s contract with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
The township’s two previous police millages have been combined into one proposal for convenience.
Voters originally approved 2.5 mills for police in 1986 and 1 mill in August 2002.
Headlee rollbacks reduced these rates to 1.9393 mill and 0.9357 mill respectively by December 2005, when both taxes expired.
Given the combined total levy was 2.8750 mills, this tax proposal also represents an increase because of Headlee.
But again, the 3.5 mills on the ballot this time is what voters were willing to approve in the past.
Addison Treasurer Dan Alberty wished it noted that the township board would probably not levy the entire 3.5 mills. He said the township will only levy what’s needed to maintain the current level of service.
The only reason 3.5 mills is on the ballot is to give the township some cushion should costs increase or more deputies be required over the next eight years (the life of the millage).
Alberty noted the previous reduced millage rates were not enough to cover the entire police contract for the last three years due to cost increases. One year, the contract cost increased by 10 percent.
The consequences of the police millage failing are fairly simple and straightforward.
A ‘no? vote means zero funding for police services in Addison starting next year.
The cash-strapped township does not have the money within its general fund to support the sheriff’s contract on an annual basis. Alberty said the cost of police services alone would equal 90 percent of the township’s general fund.
No dedicated millage means no deputies, no patrol cars, no substation exclusively devoted to serving Addison residents.
The sheriff’s department has done a fine job of providing high quality, professional contract services to the township.
We feel their record speaks for itself.
Again, we are happy to support both the fire and police millages in Addison and we advise voters to do the same on Tuesday, Aug. 8.