Overview
- City officials have proposed raising the operating millage from 2.74 mills to 3.85 mills to generate roughly $8 million in new revenue.
- City documents show the increase would cost the city portion of a homeowner’s bill about $220 a year for a $500,000 house and about $395 for an $800,000 house.
- Officials including Mayor John Park point to 13 years without an operating millage increase and rising costs such as a more than $1 million jump in the 911 contract as the reason for the proposal.
- Residents and neighborhood leaders say they understand city budget pressure but were surprised by the size of the hike and are asking for clearer detail on how the new revenue was calculated and how it will be spent.
- Public hearings were held Tuesday and the City Council was scheduled to vote later that day so homeowners should watch for the council decision and for the higher rate to appear on tax bills if it is approved.