Township Accepts Fire Petition, Files Appeal

A tax question for a fire millage posed by a citizens group in Plymouth Township moved one step closer to getting on the Feb, 28, 2012 ballot Tuesday, but still faces resistance from the township.

The Plymouth Township Board of Trustees voted 4-2 Tuesday at a special meeting to accept a petition gathered by the Citizens Action Group of Plymouth Township that would pose a ballot question on in February for a fire millage to keep firefighter-provided paramedic services in the township. The millage would be levied to a special assessment district, the boundaries of which will be determined by the board at a Dec. 19 public hearing.

While the petition cited a 1-mill tax to fund the continued EMS services, the township approved a resolution that rephrased the language to levy up to 10 mills — at the board’s discretion — to cover the cost of maintaining services and filling a $900,000 funding gap caused by the City of Plymouth ceasing its joint fire operations with the township beginning Jan. 1. The city will on that date.

The language of the ballot language accepted by the township board differed from the petition because only the township board can dictate the amount of a millage, according to Township Attorney Tim Cronin, who said he consulted with the Michigan Township Association’s legal counsel in redrafting the ballot question. According to Michigan Public Act 33 of 1951, special assessment districts for fire services cannot exceed 10 mills, but the township also could assess 0 mills if it chooses.

The vote came after Circuit Court Judge Wendy Baxter of the township’s taxable land to require the question to be on the subsequent election’s ballot. The township on earlier versions of the petition which were determined by the board to fall short of the 10-percent requirement.

The township and citizens group will be in court today as the township appeals Baxter’s ruling. The township board also , primarily discussing the issue in closed session, but wouldn't indicate publicly at the time whether it would appeal the ruling.

Trustee Bob Doroshewitz and Treasurer Ron Edwards voted against accepting the petition, but even those who voted in support of it were not enthusiastic about its passage.

Trustee Steve Mann, who voted in favor of accepting the petition, said he felt the petition was a waste of resources and too little, too late for the citizens group.

“It’s a futile effort because the for next year,” he said, referring to the department's 23-percent cut in the 2012 budget. "People just need to face the fact that the fire department is changing as of Jan. 1."

Reaume said even if the ballot language passes, the board is not required to levy a tax for the services.

“The process was botched from the beginning,” Doroshewitz said. “You took your legal advice from the clerk (Joe Bridgman, who provided a deposition for the Citizens Action Group of Plymouth Township in its lawsuit against the township) and you got what you bargained for.”

Bridgman was not present at the meeting.

With the vote, Thomas Kelly of the Citizens Action Group of Plymouth Township said the township has “basically complied with its duties under law.” He said he would be in court today as the township appeals.

Millage faces opposition from some residents

While the fire millage issue has drawn large crowds at township meetings speaking in favor of putting the tax question on the February ballot, some residents still take issue with the potential millage.

Paul Garon, a township resident, said a hybrid model of full-time firefighters and paid on-call, which the township allotted for in its 2012 budget, could be beneficial.

“A hybrid model is not such a bad thing,” Garon said. “It could mean 20, 30, 40 percent less cost. Why is that such a bad thing?”

He said the movement to pass the fire millage was an to preserve firefighters’ union jobs.

“We’ve heard the emotional side,” he said. “I don’t think my taxes should go up just so I could save a job.”

Kelly estimated the cost of preserving the fire services would be relatively minor for township residents, though, estimating the cost at approximately $75 per household. The township board will calculate the costs and total millage at its Dec. 19 public hearing.