Orion Township Board Approves Public Safety Millage Language for Aug. 7

The Orion Township Board of Trustees  on Monday unanimously approved the ballot language for the police fund millage, which will be placed on the Aug. 7 ballot.

As opposed to approving language to levy 3 mills for a period of four years with one ballot question, the board approved ballot language which asks voters to vote twice. One item will ask voters to renew the current millage, 1.9832, for the next four years beginning in December, while another item will attempt to levy an additional millage of 1.0168 mills to be imposed at the same time.

of the said in order to keep current staffing levels - at 25 deputies - voters need to approve both the renewal and the additional. If only the renewal is approved, then substation staffing will be cut by six deputies.

"This is critical, it really is," Toth said of getting both approved.

According to Toth, three years ago the substation was operating with 30 deputies.

“We are definitely very lean and conservative in Orion, but I want to make sure we are safe and that we can handle whatever is thrown at us,” Toth said at the April 16 meeting of the substation’s staffing level.

Residents rose at the meeting noting it is important for residents to spread the word about the need to approve both the renewal and additional millage because the township is not permitted to fund a marketing initiative to create awareness.

Here's a look at what residents in Orion Township and the village of Lake Orion can expect to pay in taxes for the police fund millage:

• If the renewal of 1.9832 mills is approved then, as stated in the police fund millage renewal language, "a property with taxable value of $50,000 would be taxed $99.16 for the millage."
• If the additional 1.0168 mills is levied then, as stated in the police fund millage language, "a property with taxable value of $50,000 would be taxed $50.84 for the millage." This estimate does not include the taxes for the renewal.

The fire fund millage renewal language for the Aug. 7 ballot was also approved Monday night. The millage calls for .9916 mills for four years beginning in December. In the language it states "a property with taxable value of $50,000 would be taxed $49.58 for the millage."

"That fire department has been running on 1 mill for 50 years," Trustee Mike Flood said while praising the fire department for its service.

For more on Monday's meeting see: .