Wyandotte Seeks Voter Approval of 5-year Tax Increase

Wyandotte voters will be asked in May whether they want to pay more in taxes to continue their current level of city services.

Council members voted 5-1 Monday to ask residents to approve a 3-mill, five-year tax. Councilman Ted Miciura was the dissenting vote.

As a result of the projected General Fund revenue shortfall of about $1.5 million in 2011, the council approved a ballot question asking residents to increase the operating millage by an additional 1.75 mills for a three-year period.

In November 2011, voters approved the operating millage increase, which is set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

If approved by voters, the 3-mill tax would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $62 per year for the next five years, City Clerk William Griggs said.

While the city's proposal is slated for May, the Wyandotte Board of Education wants to hold a special election in February to renew the 18-mill non-homestead tax that expires in 2015.

It costs the city about $12,000 to hold an election. Due to the budget, Griggs said the city “hopes the school district will consider changing its election date” from Feb. 25 to May 6, 2014. 

Calls to Superintendent Carla Harting were not immediately returned. 

Did the council make the right decision? What are your thoughts?