J. PATRICK PEPPER
Times-Herald Newspapers
On Nov. 3, area voters will be asked whether they want to renew the Wayne County operating millage.
If approved, the measure would renew for a period of 10 years the millage rate of 0.9529, or 95 cents for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which was approved by voters in 2000. The current millage doesn’t expire until the end of 2010.
Revenues from the measure would reap an estimated $43.5 million for the county in 2010, or about 8 percent of the county’s general operating budget.
Funds from the taxes are used to provide county services such as arrest, detention and prosecution of criminals; juvenile court and related services; public health; recreation; county parks; job training; senior services; and programs to meet the medical needs of the poor, disabled and aged.
“The county is asking voters to renew (the millage) a little earlier than absolutely necessary because it’s such a sizable portion of the general operating fund for the county,” said County Commissioner Gary Woronchak of Dearborn.
Dearborn Public Schools voters also will be asked whether to extend for another five years a 0.50 mill tax, or 50 cents for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, allocated to Henry Ford Community College. The proposal would generate a projected $2.2 million for HFCC in 2010 and would extend until 2014. HFCC President Gail Mee said the measure would allow the college to continue providing access to all students.
“Our goal is access, so there is tension over how much we can charge (in tuition) while still reaching that goal,” Mee said.