Orion Township trustees did not come to a decision at their Oct. 4 meeting on what to do with allocated funds for the parks and recreation department already in the budget, if Proposal P passes on Nov. 2.
Proposal P would set up a separate millage for parks and recreation if it is approved by voters, eliminating the need to allocate funds for parks and recreation in the township general fund.
The board heard a recommendation from the parks and recreation advisory committee on Oct. 4, which said if the millage passes, funds allocated to parks and recreation should be appropriated to acquisition of new land and/or drainage and roads.
Clerk Jill Bastian made a motion to receive and file the committee’s suggestion, which the board approved.
‘I wanted to be talking about this, but I’m not entirely sure I agree with what they are recommending,? she said.
Trustee Michael Gingell believes the recommendation suggested the township was going to ‘incrementally tax? citizens.
‘So (according to the recommendation) we’re not going to give any dollars back,? he said. ‘We have a lot of fixed income seniors…It starts adding up pretty quick.?
Treasurer Jim Marleau said the board’s decision regarding what to do with allocated funding should be included with the ballot issue.
‘This board could vote that the money has to go for green cheese…But four of us are leaving,? added Marleau. ‘This has no validity to the 2005 budget.
‘Quite frankly, I can not support a tax increase,? But I have no problem with separating the money for parks and recreation to have their own budget.?
Parks and recreation advisory committee member Joe Bird said the recommendation was made to the board based on a consultation the committee had with Oakland County Commissioner Eric Wilson.
‘We are more than happy to give the money back to the populace,? Bird said. ‘We thought this was what the board was looking for.?
Bird added that it would not be legal to draft the millage proposal with language including what the township would do with already allocated funding.
‘We could not have done that on the ballot,? he said. ‘What we’re looking for from the board is some assurance to the community that a responsible decision will be made regarding those funds, even if that includes returning them.?
Bird said it was important the community know that the millage funds would be used in lieu of already allocated funding, not in addition to it.
‘Without that, I think the reaction of the community will be that of Mr. Marleau…a strident ‘no,?? he said.
Bastian felt the advisory committee should amend their minutes to indicate from where the initial idea for the recommendation came.
‘I felt it was putting all of us up here on the spot,? she said. ‘You should reflect where this suggestion came from.?
‘Some of us have an election on November 2…some of us have an opponent, some of us do not,? said Marleau. ‘It looks like grandstanding at this point and time, making a change so close to the election.?
Bird said the blame falls with both the board and the advisory committee.
‘A pox on both of us parties for not raising the issue,? he said. ‘We thought (the suggestion was coming from) experience, from someone who knew what you were looking for. We never suggested the funds should be used in addition to millage funds.?
Gingell said he was surprised Wilson would say the township should keep the money.
‘While he supports parks and recreation, I’d be surprised if he supports additional taxation,? Gingell said.
Bird said he didn’t mean to represent ‘for a moment? that Wilson was for additional taxation.
‘Because that’s not how (I think) he meant to present this,? he said.
Bastian believes some of that allocated funding could be spread to other departments.
‘Some of these (departments) have had needs for a number of years, but they never get to be brought up,? she said. ‘I want a discussion of this…every time I bring it up, the board votes it down.?
Bastian said the board better recognize the fact that they haven’t been willing to talk about the issue.
‘You haven’t been willing to talk about it for the past two years,? she added.