Oct. 1 Public Hearing on Proposed New Tax for County Road Repair
A PUBLIC HEARING for residents to comment on a proposed half mill tax hike is scheduled to take place on Oct. 1 at 6:45 p.m. The hearing will be held during the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners’ monthly meeting.
County homeowners would pay an additional $50 for every $100,000 of taxable value, according to the proposal. The new tax would be levied without a vote of the public in December 2014. Supporters say the millage would raise an estimated $7.2 million for road repair.
County commissioners are able to impose the new tax without a vote under the auspices of Public Act 283 of 1909. The proposal guarantees funds would be used exclusively for maintenance of roads, streets, bridges, and culverts in Washtenaw County. While the County Commissioners’ proposal calls for a half mill tax, Public Act 283 allows commissioners to levy up to one mill.
At the Commissioners’ most recent Ways and Means Committee meeting Sept. 17 the group was briefed on the proposal and discussed the presentation for three hours.
A 7-2 vote meant that the proposal would be placed on the full board’s Oct. 1. meeting agenda. Commissioners Kent Martinez-Kratz and Ronnie Peterson voted against levying the new tax.
Commissioners Felicia Brabec, Andy LaBarre and Yousef Rabhi made it clear they were voting yes to allow a continued discussion concerning the new tax, not in support of levying a new property tax on county residents.
County Commissioners raised many concerns, including the fact that the Board of Commissioners would be asking residents to pay a new tax.
Yousef Rabhi said the roads need to be fixed, even though it is the state’s obligation to fund repairs. Ann Arbor’s commissioner Rabhi said he’s not comfortable enough with the proposed millage “as is” to support it.
Another of Ann Arbor’s four county commissioners, Andy LaBarre, encouraged residents to contact state representatives and state senators about concerns for adequate road funding.
Commissioner Dan Smith said an Act 283 millage is a “lousy tool,” but it is “one of the only tools the county has to respond to road funding.” Smith said putting off repairs will cost taxpayers more in the long run.
Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. said he plans to support the proposed tax increase.
Ann Arbor County Commissioner Conan Smith, who has served on the board since 2005, and who is being challenged by Republican John Floyd, said if the county doesn’t address the issue, the cost to fix the roads will “increase exponentially.” Smith told his colleagues he will support the millage.