By: Mark Vest | West Bloomfield Beacon | Published September 20, 2024
KEEGO HARBOR — The last two times that Keego Harbor placed a police millage on the ballot, the proposals failed — in 2022 and last year.
The city is currently allowed to levy up to 4 mills per year for police purposes, which is $4 per $1,000 of a home’s taxable value.
Had the millage passed in 2022, that would have increased to 8 mills. After that failed, the city put forth a millage that would have increased it to 7 mills the following year.
Although a police millage will once again be on ballots this November, this time, the city is not asking for a tax increase.
Instead, there is a proposed amendment to “extend the authority to levy up to 4 mills per year for police purposes.”
The city can levy 4 mills until 2026. If the voters approve the amendment, that would be extended until 2034.
The cost of the millage varies from homeowner to homeowner, as it is based on the taxable value of each home in the city. One mill equates to $1 for $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.
Property tax values can be found on property tax statements and by checking with the local assessor’s office.
“I know it’s a tough time out there (and) people are hurting. Inflation’s going crazy, but I think it’s important people realize that this isn’t a tax increase, it’s a renewal,” said Keego City Councilman John Fletcher. “It’s very important that we have this. Our police services are fantastic.”
Keego’s City Council members unanimously agreed to have an amendment placed on this year’s ballots, and Fletcher said that for him, “no tax increase” was one of the main drivers.
“This is not the time to ask for tax increases or for people to pay more for any kind of services,” Fletcher said. “People are getting hit from every direction out there, whether it’s fuel, groceries, insurance (or) energy costs. It’s hard, so I felt, personally, it would be a huge mistake to ask for any type of tax increase on people right now. … The timing couldn’t be any worse.”
According to Keego City Manager/City Clerk Tammy Neeb, the allotted police budget for the next fiscal year is $1,072,581. Of that amount, the millage renewal would generate approximately $450,000, with the city’s general fund making up the balance, she said.
From the perspective of Keego Mayor Rob Kalman, it is imperative that there be an extension of the police millage.
“It’s an extension of the millage we’re currently paying, and it’s going to be used only to maintain the full-time operations of the Keego Police Department. That’s it,” Kalman said.
Keego City Councilman Michael Karson also weighed in on the proposal being included on ballots.
“It’s imperative that our citizens realize that this is a replacement millage and that we need it in order to have our own police department,” Karson said. “It’s very important that people understand the purpose behind the millage.”
From the perspective of Robert Barnes, who is the interim chief of Keego’s Police Department, a millage renewal would help when it comes to retaining police officers.
“A millage, the renewal of it, will help us, because right now, we have an officer retention issue,” Barnes said. “In terms of the renewal, it would be beneficial to the police side of the street because we’ll be able to be a little more competitive for officer retention. We’re really hoping that this millage renewal passes.”
Although Keego does contract with Oakland County for marine patrol services on Cass Lake, Kalman is of the opinion that residents want to have their own police department.
Earlier this year, Kalman reported that $100,000 that the city was awarded via state-allocated dollars was set to be used to pay for county marine patrols this year and next on Cass Lake.
At press time, a figure for how much it would cost the city to contract for police services through Oakland County or another municipality had not been provided to the Beacon.
Fletcher said that the security that comes with the city having its own police department is something that he doesn’t want to give up.
“I enjoy knowing that if we pick up the phone and call 911, within two minutes we’re (going to) have a police officer at our home,” Fletcher said. “Our police officers drive in front of every single home in Keego Harbor three times a day. That’s pretty good police coverage. I think it’s a very small price to pay for that kind of security.”
To the best of Kalman’s knowledge, Keego has always had its own police department. He discussed a potential outcome if the proposal fails.
“We wouldn’t have the same level of service,” Kalman said.
When asked about what level of services may be cut if the proposal doesn’t pass, Kalman said, “Let’s wait and see what happens.”
From Fletcher’s perspective, the rationale for having the proposal placed on ballots this year is the potential to have another chance to try again before the tax levy is set to expire, should it not pass.
“If by some chance this were to fail, it gives us another opportunity to try to get this through again, because this is vital,” he said. “This is for the betterment of our community.”