Need to Know: Royal Oak's Public Safety Millage

Among the two funding issues facing Royal Oak voters in November is the city's public safety millage. The for the 5-year levy in August.

The move followed a Police Operations Analysis and Fire Operations Analysis prepared by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a nonprofit public safety consultant, which

Millage Proposal Basics

What: Royal Oak voters will decide whether to adopt a 3.975-mill tax to support police, fire and emergency medical services.

When: Nov. 6;

Why: Ballot language reads: "Over the past eight years, the City of Royal Oak has cut its full-time work force by 25 percent. Lower tax revenues will require more reductions and impact services and programs further. This proposed 5-year police, fire and emergency medical service millage will allow Royal Oak to maintain core services."

Cost: In his , Mayor Jim Ellison told the crowd of city leaders, officials and residents that if the millage is passed, it will return city property taxes to their pre-2008 levels.  For the average household, the millage will mean an additional $270 per year, he said.

To Consider: Over the past year the city successfully settled contracts with all ten bargaining units that included pay cuts, reductions in health care benefits, increased employee contributions for pensions and health care and other concessions. This millage is good for 5 years.

Informational resources

The city's website has links to several reports that commissioners received to support the decision to seek the millage, including the following:

• July 10 City Commission report by City Manager Don Johnson
• ICMA Police Department report
• ICMA Fire Department report
• Feb. 27 discussion of Police Department report
• Mar. 12 discussion of Police Department report
• Mar.26 discussion of Fire Department report
• May 3 discussion of police and fire budgets
• May 24 discussion of budget and tax rate
• July 16 discussion of millage proposal
• Aug. 13 discussion of ballot language

Public Safety Town Hall Meeting

will host a town hall discussion on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at , 506 E. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.

Mayor Jim Ellison will speak, joined by City Manager Don Johnson and police and fire department representatives.