By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – After voters struck down a proposed Headlee override in Tuesday’s primary election, officials must look for ways to cut $1.8 million from the budget.
The proposal netted 3,842 (73.3 percent) “no” votes and 1,397 (26.67 percent) “yes” votes.
The $21 million budget passed last month was based on the proposal’s passing.
The proposal would have increased the current levy of 13.9 mills to 16.5 mills and brought in an estimated $2 million. A mill is one-tenth of a cent for every $1 of taxable value of property.
It would have returned the millage to the amount originally authorized by the city, allowing it to override the Headlee Amendment to the state Constitution, which requires a local government to reduce its millage when annual property growth exceeds the rate of inflation.
A total of 22 city employees are expected to be laid off under the 2011-12 budget, but according to published reports, those cuts saved less than $1 million.
The city’s finance firm, Plante & Moran, is to make a presentation regarding the next steps for the city at Tuesday’s council meeting.
City Administrator David Tamsen did not return calls seeking comment for this story by press time.