Township residents asked to support services

How Much Are Municipal Services Worth? Township voters are asked to renew expiring millage with slight increase

By Lonnie Huhman

Arenewal and an increase. That’s what Northville Township residents will be pondering as the August 4 Primary Election approaches with a millage question on the ballot asking for a renewal of the current millage rate (that expires at the end of the year) and an increase of the rolled back millage Marina Neumaier resulting from the Headlee Amendment.

In an effort to get some information for voters, we reached out to Marina Neumaier, Northville Township’s Assistant Township Manager and Finance Director, with some questions about the

millage proposal that will be on the primary ballot.

Neumaier said the existing millage rate approved by residents in 2014, expires at the end of 2020. “The millage proposal which Northville Township voters will be asked to consider on the ballot aims to restore the current rolled back Public Safety; Parks and Recreation, Senior and Youth Services; and general operating millage to amounts approved by voters back in 2014,” Neumaier said. “To accomplish this and allow for future millage reductions due to the Headlee Amendment, a 0.5 mill increase is required.”

According to the township website, in 2014, “the electors of Northville Charter Township authorized a Public Safety millage in the amount of 6.250 mills, and, a Parks, Senior & Youth Services millage in the amount of 0.7574 mills, and a voted General Operating millage in the amount of 0.1176

The ballot question includes an additional 0.5 mill, of which 80% will be used for Public Safety, including emergency dispatch services.

The millage renewal will also fund parks and recreation programs in the community.

mills at the 2014 Michigan primary election.”

The 1978 “Headlee Amendment” to the Michigan Constitution requires a local unit of government to “roll back” or reduce its tax rates when annual growth on existing property value is greater than the rate of inflation.

This year, the state calculated inflation rate is 1.9 percent. Because of Headlee, the millage rate has gone down slightly from 2014, and now stands at 6.822 mills. With the additional half mill, the rate will be 7.322 if voters approve it.

This vote is a big deal. The property taxes that this brings in comprise more than 70% of the township’s approximate $27 million budget.

Northville Township Supervisor Bob Nix said the millage proposal was developed after several months of analysis and a determination by the township board that the existing level of services can be maintained by renewing the existing millage with an increase of 0.5 mill. Some 88 percent of that additional half mill will be dedicated solely to funding the Public Safety Department.

The township is allowed to impose and levy taxes to finance Public Safety services including Police, Fire/Ambulance (emergency medical services); Parks, Senior & Youth Services; and General Operating Services in accordance with the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and other laws.

At their April 16 meeting, the township board approved putting the proposal on the ballot. If approved by voters, the millage will run for a period of six years (2021-2026).

“We think this is a level of service our residents would like to continue. That’s why we put it on the ballot. It is up to the residents now,” he said.

Township officials say the half mill increase will be offset by a decrease of approximately 0.5 mill in the separately voted millage for the 2009 Seven Mile Road property purchase.

“As a result, the township’s total millage will not increase,” the FAQ states.

So how much would this cost a township taxpayer?

A resident’s tax bill would increase up to .50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value (TV) of their property. The TV is half of a property’s market value.

Neumaier said a resident with a home having a market value of $400,000 would pay $100 per year for the .5 mill increase.

“Approximately $93 of this amount funds Public Safety, $6 funds parks, recreation, senior and youth services and $1 goes towards general operating,” she said. “Beginning in 2021, there will be a reduction of .5 mill for the 7 Mile Road property purchase bond, so there will be no increase in the total millage rate for the township.”

Neumaier said the millage renewal plus increase is necessary to maintain current service levels, which include personnel, operating and capital costs to fund police, fire and EMS operations, as well as maintain the township’s parks and programs.

“Residents by their vote on August 4, 2020, will determine the millage rate and whether to continue the current levels of service,” Neumaier said. “Without this voterapproved millage, the township will be left without funding for public safety (police, fire/ambulance), parks and recreation, and senior and youth services.”

To learn more about the proposal and other election news, email questions to clerk@twp.northville.mi.us, or visit www.twp.northville. mi.us and check out the FAQ page.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? If you are a Northville Township resident, do you support the millage request on the Aug. 4th ballot to pay for current levels of service? Or do you think the township should make budget cuts, and where? Please email your opinions to Editor Kurt Kuban at kurtkuban@ thevillemagazine.com.

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