MILLAGE

Continued from page 1 issue, saying the millage renewal is a necessity to keep the status quo.

Without approval of the tax renewal, the city budget would be cut by about $1.8 million, requiring a reduction of services.

“If you enjoy the current level of service, support of this supplementation operating millage is critical,” Drysdale said.

“To take $1.8 million out of the budget would be devastating,” said Mayor Robert DeSana. “We’re not the federal government. The City of Wyandotte cannot print money to balance the budget.”

A question-and-answer section of the city website about the “city operating millage” says “approval of the ballot question authorizing the continuation of the supplemental operating millage will replace the prior approved supplemental operation millage that was approved in 2019 and is set to expire in 2023.”

If approved, the millage renewal would cover the years 2024 to 2033.

In recent years, the website says, voters have approved charter amendments three times for supplemental operating millage.

In November 2011, voters approved a 1.75-mill increase to the operating millage authorized in the charter. At the time, the city was facing a projected annual deficit of $1.4 million. The increase was limited to a three-year term.

Once that term expired, the projected annual deficit remained at $1.4 million, which necessitated the extension of the supplemental operating millage.

In 2014, voters approved three mills for a period of five years. The millage was renewed in May 2019 for a period of five years, which ends this year.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 2. Absentee ballots are available at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 3239 Biddle Avenue at Eureka Road.

For more information, visit the city operating millage section of the city website, wyandotte.net, or call the Mayor’s Office at (734) 324-4544, the City Administrator’s Office at (734) 324-4545 or the City Clerk’s Office at (734) 324-4560