Back new fire millage

From David Lewsley, White Lake Township trustee:

White Lake voters have been very supportive of their Police and Fire departments in past millage elections and seem satisfied with existing police, fire and emergency services. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect the Aug. 7 1-mill Police-Fire Operating Millage Renewal and 0.6740-mill Fire Millage Renewal requests to easily pass, notwithstanding challenging current economic conditions. However, many voters are probably unaware passage of the proposed 0.5-mill Fire Millage Increase is also needed to simply maintain current services.

Including about $900,000 coming from the 2004 special fire millage (for additional full-time firefighters and equipment purchases), the projected Fire Department operation budget is essentially flat at $2.6 million for years 2012 through 2014 … no pay increases are planned. The 0.5-mill increase is needed to make up for reduced property tax collections. Without the millage increase, the Fire Department operating fund is forecasted to have a $189,000 deficit by the end of 2013 and to be $575,000 in the red after 2014 … unless drastic budgetary corrective actions are taken.

I urge voters to cast their ballot in favor of the 0.5-mill Fire Millage Increase, in addition to supporting the two police and fire millage renewals. The requested 0.5-mill increase would result in a $50 per year tax increase for a home with a state equalized value (SEV) of $100,000. Surely, the safety of your family is worth $50 a year.