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Steve Myers
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Assessment raises affordability concerns
Police, fire bill hits lower-income residents
LAURA MISJAK
lmisjak@flintjournal.com | (810) 766-6314
GENESEE TOWNSHIP — Some residents are wary of the proposed assessment township residents will vote on May 4.
The $84 assessment for police and fire services will be charged to all property parcels worth $100,000 or less, but some residents say that's unaffordable for lower-income residents.
But Supervisor Steve Fuhr said most police and fire runs went to the lower income locations in the past.
"The township board decided to put this issue to a vote because many of the residents expressed concerns that a majority of the residents benefiting from these services would not be paying the same," Fuhr said in an e-mail to the Burton News. "An assessment presented a more favorable
approach to accomplishing that goal."
Of the township's 6,961 residential properties, 44 are assessed at more than $100,000, Fuhr said. Those with higher property values will be charged more for the assessment, he said.
Fuhr said properties worth more than $100,000 will be assessed more based on a a levy against the amount over the $100,000.
If approved, the $84 assessment will raise about $950,000 a year for five years for police and fire services. The township's police and fire services will likely see layoffs if the assessment isn't approved, Fuhr has said. The township is facing a $431,000 state revenue shortfall.
But township resident Steve Myers, a 2008 supervisor candidate, said he plans to vote against the assessment — not because he doesn't support police and fire, but believes it should have been proposed as a millage.
"It's going to be $84 across the board. It's going to be even on mobile home parks," he said.
"It doesn't discriminate against wealth."
Dave Gillie, owner of Gillie's Coney Island, said he has another concern.
"It's not subject to limits, which seems a bit scary," he said. "It can just go up each year without voter approval."
Fuhr affirmed that the assessment can be increased by 10 percent during the five-year time period with a township board approval. He also said the board can also approve of an assessment without an election. But he doesn't see the board increasing the $84 fee.
"At this time, the township board does not see a need for any increases from what we are currently asking for," he said.
The township is holding another assessment meeting "for the purpose of reviewing the estimated costs and expenses of the special assessment rolls for the Police and Fire Special Assessment District and hearing any objections thereto."
It is set for 6 p.m. April 14 at the Kearsley High School auditorium, 4302 Underbill Drive. |
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Steve Myers |
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Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:06 pm |
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theboyzmom
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| This story has a couple of problems - it is not on the value but on the ASSESSED VALUE - which is 1/2 the true cash value. Also, the money for this will actually just replace the amount that the township pays for fire and police out of the general budget - it will not increase it one penny. |
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Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:47 pm |
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Steve Myers
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quote:
theboyzmom schreef:
This story has a couple of problems - it is not on the value but on the ASSESSED VALUE - which is 1/2 the true cash value. Also, the money for this will actually just replace the amount that the township pays for fire and police out of the general budget - it will not increase it one penny.
Dave has already emailed Ms Misjak about the SEV and a couple other inaccuracies in the article. |
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Steve Myers |
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Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:02 pm |
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