August primary produces a high percentage of millage increases

In the 2010 August primary, there were 623 millage proposals on the ballot across Michigan and voters approved 86 percent of them. According to a review conducted by the Center for Michigan, voters were willing to approve tax increases to keep local services even under pressures of high unemployment, shrinking incomes and declining property values. Voters approved millage renewals or restorations of Headlee rollbacks by 96 percent. Proposals for new millages or tax increases were approved by the voters 69 percent of the time. Overall, county millages had the highest approval with a 93 percent success rate. Township questions equaled the statewide average with an 86 percent approval rate, while school, city and village proposals gained a 72 percent success rate.

Inside the numbers demonstrate that support for fire-fighting proposals was very high with an overall 94 percent approval. There were 40 proposals asking for new taxes for fire services and 82 percent were approved. Millage renewals for fire-fighting were approved 91 times out of 99 questions. Combined proposals that split revenue between police and fire services were approved in all cases for renewals (six times) and were defeated three out of five times in cases where new millages were being proposed.

Voters also strongly recognized the need for funding for local roads as 85 percent of all the road proposals gained approval. Road millage renewals were approved at a rate of 98 percent while new road millages had a 60 percent success rate.

Ballot proposals supporting senior citizen programs had a perfect score with votes in the August primary as all 45 questions were approved (33 renewals and 12 new proposals). Library funding proposals enjoyed an 87 percent success rate as all 16 renewals were approved and 77 percent rate of success when requests for new millages were asked (18 of 22 questions approved).

MTA attributes the high millage success rate to voters recognizing the strong threats of cutbacks to local services. Voters recognize, appreciate and enjoy their local services. They use their local services and know the pressures that local governments are under to maintain them. MTA has been warning the Michigan Legislature for several years that continued cuts to state revenue sharing and other local government programs will result in higher taxes at the local level. Many local governments are out of alternative funding options and millage questions become inevitable.