Editorial: Macomb ballot issues

Cities, school districts ask for needed repairs to schools, streets and water systems

The Detroit News

Macomb County voters must make decisions on several ballot issues dealing with taxes and bonds next month. But perhaps the most important decision they will make is on accepting a new county charter that will give them a county executive form of government.

• County Charter: We urge a yes vote on adopting a new home rule charter for the county, which will also pare the number of county commissioners to 13 from 26. A separate question asks if the county road commission should be folded into the new government under the control of the county executive. We also urge a yes vote on this issue. The yes votes would give the county a more streamlined form of government in which county officials would be more visible and more accountable for results.

• Eastpointe: Residents will be asked to renew a public safety tax of 7 mills for five years (1 mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a home's taxable value, usually half of its market value.) The public safety millage has been in place for five years. Failure to approve the millage would be disruptive and expensive for residents. We urge a yes vote this time, but residents should demand that the City Council revise the city's tax structure to eliminate the special police millage, which is unfair. It should be folded into the city's general operating millage so residents aren't forced to deal with a public safety crisis if they reject a new millage.

• Fraser Public Schools: The district is seeking both a renewal of its nonhomestead property tax millage of nearly 17.8 mills and a small tax increase of a bit more than 0.2 mill to restore millage that was rolled back under the state Constitution's Headlee Amendment. The state school aid formula assumes school districts levy the full 18 mills allowed for commercial and industrial property, so this is primarily a millage renewal that should be approved for the district. Vote yes.

• Harrison Township: Residents are being asked to renew the township's operating levy of up to 6.68 mills to cover local government costs. The bulk of the millage will go for police and fire services, but the millage includes most government costs, so the township board can move funds as needed to cover essential services, which is the right way to seek a millage and run a local government. Residents should vote yes.

• Village of New Haven: Voters will be asked to approve a 30-year, $10 million bond issue for refurbishing and repairing the city's water system. They should vote yes. The city has antiquated, narrow water pipes and frequent water main breaks. If it is passed, the village will qualify for federal stimulus funds that could defray up to 40 percent of the costs. Infrastructure improvements are expensive but vital and can't be indefinitely shirked. Voters should take advantage of the federal money while they can.

• St. Clair Shores: Residents will be asked to renew a 0.98-mill street and sewer maintenance and repair levy for an additional five years. Residents should vote yes . Street and sewer maintenance are unglamorous but essential.

• Warren Consolidated Schools: The district is seeking approval of a 25-year bond issue of up to $65 million for such items as roof replacement, parking lot paving and school building improvements. The roofs it will repair or replace haven't seen improvements in 20 years. Voters should say yes. This is the kind of investment that should be covered by bonds.