Millage revisited

City Council appears likely to approve a new ballot proposal on Monday

Posted

Friday, Aug. 26— Look for the Lansing City Council to approve some ballot language at Monday’smeeting that will ask city voters again to increase the millage rate forpolice, fire and road services.

The proposalwould appear on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot and would not go into effectuntil the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2012. But for that to happen,the Council must act by Tuesday, and Monday’s meeting is the last one scheduledbefore then.

At this point,it is unclear what form the millage increase will take. The proposal is inlight of an anticipated $12 million to $15 million budget deficit for the nextfiscal year, the administration said earlier this week.

The Council’sWays and Means Committee is scheduled to meet Monday at 6 p.m., one hour beforethe Council’s regularly scheduled meeting.

At-LargeCouncilwoman Kathie Dunbar, who chairs Ways and Means, said Monday that asecond millage proposal is in the works. However, unlike the 4-mill proposedincrease that failed in May 52 percent to 48 percent, Dunbar said she’sexploring the idea of an “a-la-carte” proposal. That would include separateballot questions for 1-mill increases to go toward police, fire and roadservices, she said.

However, it isunclear whether that approach will be legally sound. Another option would besimilar to May’s proposal that had a singular, 4-mill increase for police, fireand roads.

City Attorney Brig Smith said today, "I am reviewing the possibleoptions but will not have any comment until Monday."

Ways and Meansis composed of Dunbar, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tina Houghton and 1stWard Councilman Eric Hewitt. If a majority of the committee approves aresolution, it’s then sent on to the full Council for approval. The deadline toapprove ballot language is Tuesday. The Council is not scheduled to vote on anymillage increases during it’s regular meeting, so if anything comes out of Waysand Means, it would have to be added as a late item to the Council’s agenda.

Dunbar could notbe reached for comment today.

Dunbar’scomments Monday came shortly after Finance Director Jerry Ambrose alertedCouncil of a possible $12 million to $15 million deficit for fiscal year 2013,which begins July 1, 2012. That projection is based on continued drops inproperty tax revenue and increased healthcare costs.

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