Crime & Safety
Police Millage Renewal on November Ballot Will Not Increase Taxes, Macomb Clerk Says
Confusing wording on the Nov. 6 ballot may throw some Macomb Township voters off.
Voters, take caution when you hit the poles next month. There’s a millage renewal on the Nov. 6 ballot that may cause some confusion in Macomb Township.
The Renewal of Police Protection Millage covers the cost of law enforcement services from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. Macomb Township contracts its police services to the sheriff for approximately $3.1 million a year and revenue from the Police Protection Millage covers the cost of this service.
The 1.0601 millage is due to expire on April 6, 2014, but timing won’t allow it to be placed on the August or November ballots in the 2014 election cycle. In order to continue uninterrupted service through December 2030 and to avoid a special election, the millage question is on this upcoming ballot.
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Here’s how it will appear:
Shall the constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be levied on all taxable real and personal property in the Township of Macomb, County of Macomb, Michigan be increased by up to two (2) mills, ($2.00 for each $1,000) of taxable value of such property for a period of sixteen (16) years (January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2030) to provide revenue to be used exclusively for the payment of police protection?
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- The estimated revenue to be collected in the first year if the entire two (2) mills is levied is $5,542,377.00.
- The Police Protection Millage was initially approved by the voters of Macomb Township in April of 1994 and renewed in 1999 and 2004. The current millage expires on December 31, 2014.
The proposed millage is a renewal of a previously authorized millage and does not constitute a new additional millage.
Even though the millage reads as if it’s asking for an increase – it’s not, said Clerk Michael D. Koehs. “This will not raise taxes,” Koehs added.
So, why the confusing text? Koehs said legally, the millage must be written that way, however, he did urge readers to carefully study this proposal and all others, for that matter, before voting.
