Plymouth Township Firefighters Urge 'No' Vote

In an advertisement issued today, the Plymouth Township firefighters have come out against a ballot question that would pose a millage question to maintain existing fire and EMS services in the township.

In the ad, the firefighters say the ballot question is not what was sought when the Citizens Action Group gathered petition signatures over the summer.

"The referendum on Tuesday’s ballot for a millage increase to help maintain Plymouth’s fire and emergency medical service is not the one proposed by the firefighters and the Citizen Action Group that supports our commitment to protecting our neighbors," the ad reads.

The Citizens Action Group's petition sought a one-mill increase for five years to fund firefighter-provided EMS and preserve current full-time personnel in the wake of the the City of Plymouth leaving its fire agreement with the township to join with Northville. The departure leaves the township with less area to cover and a nearly $1 million shortfall for its department. Township trustees budgeted a 23 percent cut this year for the department. As posed on the ballot, a millage of up to 10 mills could be assessed indefinitely in the township.

"Worse yet, the current tax proposal on Tuesday’s ballot is open-ended, instead of being limited to five years, as the Citizen’s Referendum proposed," the ad reads.

The millage question hasn't found much support in the community, as players on both sides have publicly opposed the proposed millage, at least how it it is worded on the ballot. Township officials, the Citizens Action Group and firefighters have all urged residents to vote "no."