Oxford Village resident Tracy Miller is forming a committee to examine either revising the current village charter or pursuing cityhood.
‘It’s something that I’m forming on my own,? he said in an interview at his Oxford Lakes home. ‘I think it’s something that needs to be done.?
Miller, who’s the husband of Oxford Village Councilwoman Renee Donovan, said he mailed ‘about 25 letters? to residents who have previously expressed an interest in either subject to attend a meeting on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. in the large conference room across from the village council chambers at 18 W. Burdick St.
‘I sent out a letter hoping to get some feedback from local residents,? said Miller, who’s lived in the village since September 1999. ‘And if the feedback is positive, then I’ll take the necessary steps to form the action group that needs to be formed. I’ll go to the county and register it, and go forward.?
Part of the reason Miller said he is forming this committee is because of a comment Councilman Dave Bailey made.
‘It’s my understanding that Councilman Bailey had brought up (at a meeting) two or three weeks ago that he thought there was a possibility the (village) charter needed to be revised,? he said. ‘I thought that’s a place to start. If the village goes to cityhood, the state requires a charter commission anyhow. I put both in the letter to accomplish two goals.?
Revising the charter is ‘a must either way,? considering the last full revision was done 26 years ago, Miller said.
‘The needs of the community have escalated tremendously,? he said.
Miller admitted he’s strong proponent of the village incorporating as a city.
‘The whole concept behind the legislation that allows a municipality to form a city is to make a streamlined and a more modernized form of government,? he said.
Miller said the Oxford’s present township/village system is plagued by ‘duplication, waste and ineffective government.?
‘I don’t see the citizens as a whole benefiting (from this),? he said.
Duplication is a ‘tremendously big issue,? Miller said, citing examples such as the township and village each paying to have their own clerk and treasurer and that each unit sends out separate tax bills.
‘It’s total duplication, a total waste of good taxpayers? money,? he said. ‘We need to simplify things.?
Miller said the township/village system of government creates ‘confusion? among residents and pointed to voting as an example.
‘We have very, very, very, very, very poor voter turnout (in the village),? he said. ‘We have complacency.?
‘I don’t like small numbers,? he said. ‘I believe good government need to be have full representation.
Miller said part of the reason for this is that village residents ‘don’t even know where to register to vote.?
‘You gotta go through two steps to register,? he said. ‘You have to register in the village then register in the township.?
However, according to village Clerk Rose Bejma, while that is true under state law in other township/village systems, it’s not what happens in Oxford.
Bejma said she and the township clerk’s office have an agreement in place whereby if a village resident registers with the village, the registration information is automatically passed onto the township clerk and vice versa.
‘It’s worked very well,? she said of the agreement.
Miller said the village and township’s separate elections also add to voter confusion. The village holds its regular election in March while the general, state and national elections are through the township.
‘It could be simplified, one place to register and vote,? he said. ‘If you want citizens to vote, make the process simple and secure.?
But simply voting isn’t enough, Miller said ‘you need to show the folks that they indeed do have a say.?
He said cities can divide council member representation into geographic districts which ‘represent the views of each portion of the city, so it’s not all one side running the municipality.?
Miller said cityhood would also give the village a greater voice on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
He said instead of being represented through one commissioner, who also represents Oxford Township, the village would ‘as a city. . .have two seats automatically? on the county commission.
‘Every city by state statute in Oakland County gets two (commissioners) minimum,? Miller said. ‘Normally, it’s based upon population, but in Oakland County, there’s a statute that requires a minimum of two (commissioners).?
However, according to Jim VanLeuven, administrative director for the county board of commissioners in Pontiac, Miller’s assertion is ‘absolutely false.?
‘If (Oxford Village) were a city right now, it wouldn’t change a thing as far as the commissioner districts,? VanLeuven said.
Oxford would still be part of District #1 and Bill Patterson would still be the commissioner, he said.
Oakland County is divided into 25 equal districts, with each commissioner representing approximately 48,000 residents.
The City of the Village of Clarkston is an example that cities do not ‘automatically? receive two county commissioners.
Clarkston is represented by Commissioner Tom Middleton, who also represents Independence Township and the northwest portion of Waterford Township.
Although both charter villages and a cities can levy up to 20 mills for all purposes, Miller said a city has more flexibility as to how those mills are spent.
‘A city can spend the funding however it deems necessary,? Miller said. ‘In a village, it’s specifically designated (for various purposes) ? you spend this for operating, you spend this for roads. . .And that’s it. You don’t have any say so.?
In other words, once the village locks in how many mills it’s going to allocate to a particular area in a given fiscal year, those dedicated funds have to be spent for that purpose. Whereas a city can shift monies in its budget from one area to another any time it deems necessary.
‘I as a taxpayer would like to have control over what I’m going to get stuck paying for and what I’m not going to get stuck paying for,? Miller said. ‘I think all voters feel the same way.?
It should be noted that although state law allows cities to levy up to 20 mills for all purposes, charter cities are also authorized to levy at least four additional property taxes for specific purposes ? up to 3 mills for garbage services, up to 1 mill for library services, up to 1 mill to support activities and services for persons age 60 or older and an additional property tax for funding pension plans for city police and fire department personnel.
In addition to property taxes, cities are the only unit of government other than the state authorized to levy income taxes. The Uniform City Income Tax Act permits any city to levy an income tax. Cities are generally limited to rates of one percent on residents and corporations, and ? percent on nonresidents on income earned in the imposing city.
Miller pointed out that as a city, Oxford could apply for more outside funding ? which currently isn’t available to the village ? to meet the growing number of state and federal mandates.
‘There’s an unlimited amount of opportunities that a city can take advantage of that a village can’t,? he said.
As far as the committee meeting is concerned, Miller said, ‘I’m hoping there will be a whole bunch of people there who feel the same way I do ? that’s it’s time to move in a different direction; streamline the government, get rid of some of the fat; cut down on the duplication of services and expenditures; and move into the 21st century.?
The meeting is open to the public. For more information call Miller at (248) 969-3816.