Despite recommendations by Finance Director Susan Hendricks, Independence Township Board of Trustees went with a ‘Wal-Mart” marketing approach to the police millage.
‘We had a suggestion at the public hearing that we try and get the rate under 3 mills,? said Trustee Neil Wallace.
‘There is a marketing value to selling this millage under 3, much like the retailers do in selling merchandise. I like the concept of the smooth millage for consistency,? said Trustee Larry Rosso. ‘I think we’re cutting our budget to the bone, going to the voters with the marketing in place and a smooth millage of 2.95, which of course includes the CIA. I think that would be the best way to go.?
Wallace recommended a renewal millage rate of 2.0547 plus an increase of .8953, which would make a millage level rate of 2.95. This would cost the average homeowner $295 annually with taxable value home of $100,000 and would generate $4,257,433, of that amount 2.34 percent would solely be collected from the properties within the Sashabaw Corridor Improvement Authority district to be distributed to that authority.
The motion passed on a 4-1 vote. Carson voted ‘no,? and Mark Petterson was absent.
‘Consider for 2011 cutting two deputies,? Wallace said. ‘To me it would certainly be better to cut two and show the public we’re doing everything to make the police millage workable and palatable.?
In an April 22 e-mail to the Clarkston News Hendricks said she did not know what the extent of cuts would be.
‘We will not have full funding for what we currently have in that department, but I am not certain what the cuts will be,? she said. ‘As you know I had not reviewed the option that got approved prior to the meeting so I need to confirm with the appropriate people before giving you an answer on what it means.?
Originally Hendricks had proposed two options at the April 6 public hearing. The first a flat rate of 3.03 mills, under this option the township would be responsible for setting aside surplus funds for future use when the 3.03 was not enough to fund the department. This would cost the average homeowner $303 annually with taxable value home of $100,000.
The second option was a 3.306 millage rate, with this option the township would only levy the amount needed to support the police.
Hendricks projected, only 2.639 mills would be have to be levied in 2011, 2.9766 mills in 2012, 3.24 mills in 2013 and 3.306 mills in 2014, when the four-year millage expired.
Treasurer Curt Carson said he doesn’t like taxing people for more then they need.
‘I would probably be more inclined since we have to break them up (into two separate millages a renewal and increase) we go with the standard rate renewal,? Carson said. ‘Then we go to the higher to get to the 3.306 and that gives us the ability down the road to be covered.?
Trustee David Lohmeier was also a ‘fan of the smooth approach.?
‘Showing an aggressive look at demonstrating we’re minding our own store,? he said. ‘I thought that advice came well when we had the citizens in on April 6.?
However, Supervisor Dave Wagner disagreed.
‘The majority of the folks who spoke at the last meeting were in favor of keeping the status quo and that’s what they said, here we are as a board prepared to vote on a motion that’s going to go against what the majority of the people at that meeting said,? Wagner stated.
‘I don’t know where the fiscal responsibility comes into it.?
The recommended library millage also passed on a 4-1 vote, Carson voted ‘no.? which is for a flat renewal of 0.6910 with no increase. For a taxable value home of $100,000 this means $69 annually.
This amount would generate a total of $997, 250 of that amount $11,653 (1.17 percent) would be solely be collected from the properties within the Sashabaw Corridor Improvement Authority district to be distributed to that authority.