Decision 2005
Metro Detroit voters OK tax hikes in 12 of 22 towns
Royal Oak schools will get their upgrades, but roads in Rochester Hills and Lincoln Park won't.
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Metro Detroit voters endorsed higher taxes for munidipal services in Tuesday's election, despite tough economid times facing the region.
Twenty-two proposals in more than 16 communities were on Tuesday's ballot, asking voters to fork over funds for everything from school improvements in Royal Oak to city services in Eastpointe. Fifteen measures passed, six failed and results from one measure in Lyon Township were not yet available early Wednesday.
In Royal Oak, the third time appeared to be the charm for Royal Oak schools as a $69.5 million bond proposal to upgrade the district's aging facilities appeared headed for approval with 92 percent of the precincts reporting.
A separate measure to raise taxes 1.75 mills for city operating expenses appeared headed for failure with the same number of precincts reporting.
Jackie Perantoni, a Royal Oak mother of two, specifically went to the polls Tuesday to support the school district's third attempt at a bond proposal since 2002.
"I think it's a necessity for the city," said Perantoni, whose 8-year-old twin daughters attend Longfellow Elementary. "How will they keep families here and draw more families if they don't update the facilities?"
Royal Oak Superintendent Tom Moline was elated by Tuesday's results.
He said supporters of the proposal pushed hard to get parents out to support the measure, which he thinks made the difference.
"Some parents were saying if this didn't pass, they were going to send their kids to other locations. This is the message they needed," Moline said. "We turned in the other direction."
In Eastpointe, where city officials were desperately hoping for approval of a 7-mill tax increase after having to severely scale back services, voters also granted their wish.
Residents approved a five-year, 7-mill tax increase to support public safety by a 3,952 to 3,640 margin after rejecting the same measure by 100 votes in August.
"I'm the happiest guy in Eastpointe," said Councilman Ron Selvidge, who is also chairman of the Eastpointe Citizens for Public Safety. "We're going to be able to protect and service our seniors."
"It's a great day."
Elsewhere in Macomb County, voters in St. Clair Shores' Lake Shore school district also said yes to a five-year, 19.1278 nonhomestead millage to support the Lake Shore district's general operations. The renewal and slight increase passed by a 3,490 to 1,724 vote.
Harrison Township residents passed a millage proposal that will levy 6.670 mills to fund and support fire department operations, police protection and general operations within the township for next year.
But not all voters were in a giving mood.
Voters rejected measures for city services in Belleville and separate proposals for roads in Rochester Hills and Lincoln Park.
In Wayne County, voters soundly rejected a controversial measure that would have raised about $288,828 on this year's tax rolls for city operations by a 2-to-1 margin. A measure in Lincoln Park for roads and a Belleville millage also failed.
The Grosse Pointe Park millage proposal was opposed by a grassroots group of residents, called Park Residents for Open Government, which circulated fliers stating that the proposed millage amounted to a 21 percent tax increase. The group recommended the city sell some of its property and tap cash reserves to avoid the increase.
Voters such as Rick Courson, 48, turned out to oppose the increase.
"I think they should learn to budget their money wisely," Courson said, "just like everybody else has to."
Lincoln Park voters overwhelmingly failed to renew a 3-mill tax for road improvements. Officials said the tax would be crucial to improve Lincoln Park's aging streets, most of which date to the early 1960s.
The state's economy led many voters to reject the proposal, even though residents would like to see their roads approved, said City Manager Steve Duchane.
"People are making struggling decisions at home, and 16 to 20 bucks a year is still 16 to 20 bucks a year," Duchane said. "You feel bad for the community because the need doesn't go away.
"(Now) the mayor and the council will have to reach out to the community and try to determine what is an acceptable course of action, bearing in mind that the roads still have to be addressed in some manner," Duchane added.
"There's barely enough money for winter snow and ice control and summer repairs."
Detroit News Staff Writers Christina Stolarz and Karen Bouffard contributed to this report. You can reach Maureen Feighan at (248) 647-7416 or mfeighan@detnews.com.
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The Detroit News.
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