FeedsTownship officials outline need for millages
Officials in Northville Township said they’re not sure how to take the response to the first town hall meeting to discuss two millages voters will see in August.
The township hosted an informational meeting on the subject last week that was attended by about a dozen residents. Township Supervisor Mark Abbo said he would have liked to see a bigger turnout.
“My concern is that people may be complacent,” he said. “Whether they’re for it or against it people should vote. They shouldn’t be complacent.”
Township residents will see two millage requests on the Aug. 8 ballot. Both are essentially renewals and will fund services that are already in place. The first is a 4.7 millage renewal to fund the public safety department. A decrease from the 5.01 mills township voters approved in 1998, the millage would generate $8.995 million.
The money generated is virtually the sole funding source for the public safety department, which includes both the police and fire departments.“We’re completely dependent on this millage,” said Police Chief John Werth.
His department—and the fire department, as well—has concentrated on proactive public safety issues.
The police department also moved into an expanded home—the renovation project that transformed the old Northville Township Hall into a police headquarters will probably be the last such project needed, Werth said.
“This facility will serve our needs for the next 25 years, at least,” he said. “We were planning for the future.”
The second millage request is for .8750 mills to fund the township portion of the shared services departments. The dedicated funding stream will pay for the parks and recreation department, the senior services department and the Northville Youth Assistance.
The millage will essentially replace the .6596 mill parkland acquisition and development millage levied by the township. Abbo said it would pay for park maintenance and operations.
Northville Township has more than 386 acres of parkland, most of it purchased through the acquisition and development millage or donated.
“We want to make sure the legacy we leave will serve Northville Township forever,” Abbo said.
