By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Three times wasn’t a charm for a millage proposal here Tuesday.
Voters rejected a two-year 4-mill request during the general election. The measure failed 7,560 to 6,366, the third time a similar measure has failed in the past year. Similar millages in November 2011 and May that would have brought in $2.2 million to subsidize the city’s contribution to the failed movie studio property also were struck down.
The millage would have brought $2.9 million a year to the general fund.
The measure was placed on the ballot prior to the appointment of Emergency Financial Manager Joyce Parker. When placed, it was used as part of the city’s plan to appeal Gov. Snyder’s decision to appoint an EFM.
Mayor William Matakas said he and the council are disappointed with the millage’s failure, but he doesn’t think it had much to do with Parker’s appointment as with no city council meetings due to the election, many residents may not have known she began work there.
“I was disappointed,” Matakas said. “The EFM is going to need the new income, so what her strategy will be to get us through the fiscal year, we’re just gonna have to watch and see.”