Vote Means Public Safety Won't Have to Cut Service

Police and fire staffing levels will continue at current levels after voters Tuesday passed a proposal for a higher tax rate that was supported by a coalition of residents, police and fire unions.

The winning ballot proposal replaces an expiring millage that guarantees police and fire staffing levels. The new, higher tax rate will prevent cuts to the departments.

"It wasn't about the money, it was about keeping the residents safe," said Paul Opper, vice-president of the St. Clair Shores Police Officers Association. "The residents made up their mind and they wanted to keep the current police department and fire department at the current levels."

The previous 1.5656 millage, which will expire June 30, mandated that there be no fewer than 101 personnel in the police department, and 50 personnel in the fire department.

With the new 2.0 mill tax rate, the police department will employ no fewer than 90 workers and 50 personnel in the fire department. The number is smaller for the police department due to the pending consolidation of dispatch services with neighboring cities.

"The residents wanted to maintain their police and fire service and did not want to see a reduction in service," said Chris Krotche, president of the St. Clair Shores Professional Firefighters Union. "This guarantees staffing and tells the residents if you give us this money, we will give you a service in return."

The owner of a home with a taxable value of $56,109 will pay $112 in taxes annually for the three years of the millage. This is an increase of $24 over the current 1.5656 millage.

City council initially approved ballot language in June to place a proposal on the ballot that would continue the 1.5656 millage for police and fire operation and capital improvements. This became know as "Proposal 1."

Following the city council's action, a coalition of police officers, fire fighters and residents formed a group called RESPONSE (Residents Endorsing Safe police and fire Personnel On-duty Numbers for St. Clair Shores Everyday) to collect signatures to put a second proposal issue on the ballot. The group collected 3,600 signatures in 12 days to put "Proposal 2" on the ballot, and ultimately won the vote.

This millage is expected to generate $3.4 million in taxes for police and fire operations and guarantee staffing levels.

Although the passage of Proposal 2 millage will generate $3.4 million the first year, which is greater than the $2.7 million Proposal 1 would have generated, the city still faces financial challenges, according to Mike Smith, assistant city manager.

Smith stated the police and fire budgets account for 44 percent of the general fund budget, or about $18.6 million. Under the current budget projections, without any additional concessions or changes, the city will need to dip into the "rainy day fund" or undesignated fund balance. The city could face a deficit situation in 2014, he said.

"Two mills is not enough to reduce the structural deficit we have," Smith said. "We just can't keep spending money. ... We are going to have to make changes."