Wyandotte Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Tax Hike

Wyandotte residents will be paying slightly more in taxes over the next three years as voters approved a millage increase on Tuesday.

The is expected to generate about $1 million in revenue in the first year to help offset an estimated $1.4 million shortfall in the city's budget.

City officials still will have to make cuts to patch up the other $400,000. Had the millage been defeated, however, officials said the cuts would have gone much deeper, including layoffs in the and departments.

The average Wyandotte homeowner is expected to pay an additional $85 a year for three years to compensate for the millage being passed, according to City Administrator Todd Drysdale.

When the results came in shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Mayor Joseph Peterson said he was "breathing a bit easier right now."

"I’m very happy," he said. "I’m excited that people understand the seriousness of the problem that all cities are in. I’ve always had confidence in Wyandotte citizens and now tonight, they put their trust in us by passing this millage. I realize no one likes a tax increase. We’re just trying to keep our city at the level of services that our citizens have become used to."

The millage passed in all 10 voting precincts.

Of the 19,273 registered voters in the city, 4,023 cast ballots in Tuesday's election, resulting in a 21 percent turnout.

Peterson said he's impressed with those numbers.

"I know the citizens are concerned about the future of the city when you have 20 percent of them coming out to vote," he said. "Whether you voted yes or no, it shows you are aware and care about the future of this city."

Vote Tallies