Dear Editor:
The voters of Independence Township have turned down probably the biggest need in the township – that of a new Senior Center and a millage to operate it. But the real loss will go to the Parks and Recreation Department and the people that use their services. The voters have spoken and now they will have to pay with drastic cuts in services and undoubtedly manpower from Parks and Recreation.
People have told me that one of the nicest things about living in the township was the abundance of recreation and parks available to their families. The operating millage would have allowed the Senior Center to have its own budget and not be a budgeted item under Parks and Rec. That would have reduced the Parks and Recreation budget by about 20 percent or the amount that normally goes to operate the Senior Center. Where is that money going to come from? Cuts in services and manpower. Yes, there is no question we need a new Senior Center but we also need a vibrant Parks and Recreation Department. Those that voted against the millage and bond proposal didn’t win at all. But they could very well have created a big loss for all township residence.
Bob Brown
Independence Township