Cynics who believe their votes don’t count can look to Addison Township as proof that they do.
A mere 18 votes led to the passage of the North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA) millage proposal in the May 5 election.
Voters approved the new tax 819 to 801.
As a result, Addison will have the tax revenue necessary to rejoin NOTA and receive the local bus service it’s been without since Jan. 1.
‘I’m so glad the voters came out. It made a difference,? said Addison resident Pat Schnur, who circulated a petition to place the five-year, 0.25-mill tax proposal back on the ballot following its two failures last year.
‘This is going to make it easier for (people who lack transportation). They can go to church. They can go to the grocery store. They can go wherever they want to go at a reasonable price.?
NOTA provides low-cost, publicly-subsidized transportation for senior citizens (age 60 and older), permanently or temporarily disabled individuals and low-income residents. The agency charges its users the nominal fee of $1 or $2 per ride (one way).
Destinations for typical NOTA riders include medical facilities, grocery stores, senior centers, church services, hair salons and barber shops, jobs and employment training, community events, local libraries and the Oxford-Orion FISH food pantry.
Addison was one of the founding members of NOTA in 2001, along with Oxford and Orion townships. It was forced to withdraw last year following the failure of NOTA millage requests in August and November. Addison received its last ride from NOTA on Dec. 30
Addison Supervisor Bruce Pearson, a NOTA supporter, was ‘extremely happy? with the election’s outcome.
‘It was a good night. I slept good last night,? he said in an interview the day after the vote. ‘This is a huge win for the whole community as far as I’m concerned.?
Pearson had no doubt ‘it was going to be close,? but he believes once people heard stories about how much senior citizens and disabled residents ‘were hurting? without NOTA, that made a ‘huge difference.?
‘I think the people here made the right choice,? he said. ‘I think they understand there’s more to life than just the buck in your pocket. Sometimes you have to think about others.?
‘You always have to have somebody who speaks up for the weak and the old in this life, and it’s been that way since the beginning of time,? Pearson noted. ‘It’s too easy to forget about your seniors until you become a senior.?
Pearson believes this last go-around with the millage really gave voters an opportunity to educate themselves about what NOTA is, what it does and its value to the community.
‘It’s not SMART (a bus system that serves 75 communities in three counties) or anything like that,? the supervisor said. ‘It was started by three townships. It’s very well managed. Once that message got out, I think people understood what they were giving up a few dollars for.?
Pearson was particularly impressed that NOTA passed given the state’s Proposal 1 ? the only other thing on the May 5 ballot ? failed with 1.4 million people voting against it and 350,000 for it.
Proposal 1 was a $2 billion tax increase designed to generate additional revenue for roads, schools, rail/mass transit, local governments, the state’s general fund and tax relief for low-to-moderate income people.
Addison residents rejected Proposal 1 with 1,442 voting against it and 190 voting for it.
‘You had 80 percent of the people so mad, they went to vote ‘no? on Prop 1, but yet we passed NOTA. To me, that’s a big win,? Pearson said.
Addison resident Joe Schnur explained why believes NOTA succeeded in the face of such overwhelming opposition to Proposal 1.
‘NOTA passed because people recognized that there was value there,? he said. ‘The other one did not pass because there was no value for us in there. It was a joke.?
Oxford felt the same way as Proposal 1 failed 3,425 to 564.
NOTA Director Lynn Gustafson was also pleased by the millage’s success.
‘I’m just thrilled,? she said. ‘The citizens of Addison, their perseverance paid off. The third time was the charm. We’re just very happy to have Addison back with us because they’re part of our whole team. That’s how we thought of them.?
‘We’re relieved that the seniors and the disabled of Addison won’t be stranded anymore,? Gustafson added. ‘They can live their lives and regain their independence, which is great.?
Although the millage proposal passed, it’s not clear at this point exactly when Addison residents will begin receiving rides again because levy of the new tax won’t begin until December. It’s expected to generate $70,000 in its first year.
‘I’d like to get it started as soon as possible,? said Pearson, who noted he has to discuss details with NOTA and the township attorney, Bob Davis.
According to Gustafson, the NOTA board will address the issue at its Thursday, May 21 meeting.
‘We’re anxious to get back to serving Addison as soon as legally possible,? she said. ‘My guess is we’ll have answers by our next board meeting. We want to get it rolling as soon as possible.?