Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2009

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  • Jan-Michael Stump

    DEBBIE LUHRS
October 19, 2009

Economy may determine millage outcome

Acme, East Bay voters to decide fate of proposal Nov. 3

BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY

TRAVERSE CITY -- Backers and opponents of a proposed road millage in Acme and East Bay townships agree on one thing -- the economy will likely determine the outcome of the Nov. 3 vote.

Both townships are separately asking voters to approve a 1-mill property tax levy for five years to improve local roads. The levy would raise about $317,000 its first year in Acme and $501,000 in East Bay, costing the owner of a home with a taxable value of $72,000 another $72 a year in taxes.

"People can simply not afford to do this right now," said Debbie Luhrs, who is leading the opposition against the millage in East Bay Township. "They want to raise the millage rate and charge people in my subdivision who are laid off, out of work and unemployed."

Renee Kaufman, of the Fix Our Roads Committee, acknowledged the main argument against the millage is the poor economy.

"But is there ever a perfect time?" Kaufman said. "By improving this critical infrastructure you'll be making a lasting improvement in your community."

Rick Cooper, of Acme, said in his township the road tax would cost most homeowners less than $8 a month.

"To my mind that's acceptable and not an overburdening cost, but that's why we are taking it to a vote," Cooper said. "People have to make up their own mind."

Luhrs, who lives on a short piece of private road, views the millage as a way to get residents along private and subdivision roads to help pay to fix Holiday Road.

"It's not about fixing all the roads -- it's about fixing Holiday Road with all of our money," Luhrs said.

East Bay Township Supervisor Glen Lile said there's no agreement to fix Holiday Road first, but most agree it will be one of the top priorities for both townships because of its poor condition and high traffic volume.

The millage drive originated in the Holiday Hills area, where numerous subdivisions with over 1,000 homes plus a ski hill are accessed from Holiday Road. Federal road dollars can't be used on local roads and state funds through the county road commission are limited to 50 percent for local roads. But the cash-strapped Grand Traverse County Road Commission has no money available for local road improvements.

Past efforts to establish a special assessment district on Holiday Road failed, sunk by residents who live along the route. Those with road frontage absorb most if not all of the cost in a special assessment district, while accounting for less than 5 percent of the traffic.

Kaufman said while backers started with their focus on Holiday Road, they soon realized other local collector roads in both townships weren't getting fixed because of the same issues. Their committee has representation throughout both townships and promotes fixing the worst collector roads such as Holiday, Bunker Hill and Rasho roads because that will benefit the most people.

"Nobody lives in a box, we all travel these roads, and when the community roads are improved everybody's property values will increase," Kaufman said.

Gordie LaPointe said he won't travel any of the roads on the priority list. LaPointe lives on Plum Road, a private road in Acme Township off U.S. 31. He prefers a proposed county road millage slated for 2010 that will allocate 25 percent to more heavily traveled primary roads and 75 percent to local roads.

"I'm not for new taxes, but of the two I can get behind the county one," LaPointe said.

He's also concerned if voters approve a millage in the two townships, they'll vote against a county road millage.

Resolutions adopted by both township boards pledge they won't continue to collect a township road levy if one is adopted county-wide, but LaPointe said voters would "be absolutely confused" and vote no.

Kaufman and Cooper said they will support a county road millage, but they don't want to wait as the idea of a county-wide road millage has failed in the past.

"If we get it passed this year we'll get action starting next summer, while for the county millage it's two winters we have to go through, and we don't know if it will happen," Cooper said. "There are so many ifs and I'm for getting something done now rather than waiting another year."

For complete Nov. 3 coverage, see record-eagle.com/election.

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