Oxford, Addison voters reject RTA tax

 

Voters in Oxford and Addison townships soundly rejected the proposed regional mass transit tax.

Based on the unofficial election results, Oxford voters thrashed it 6,783 to 3,366, while Addison voters thumped it 2,372 to 983.

The proposed 20-year, 1.2-mill property tax proposed by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan to develop and operate a mass transit system linking parts of Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw and Macomb counties failed by 18,317.

A total of 912,395 people voted ‘no’ in the four counties, while 894,078 voted ‘yes.’

Voters in Oakland and Macomb failed the proposed tax, while voters in Wayne and Washtenaw approved it.

In Oakland County, the proposal was edged out by 1,109 votes with 293,510 voting ‘no’ and 292,401 voting ‘yes.’

Things weren’t nearly as close in Macomb. Voters there overwhelmingly rejected it 222,806 to 148,159.

The proposed tax passed in Wayne County (359,244 to 322,447) and Washtenaw County (94,274 to 73,632).

Locally, the Oxford and Addison township boards, along with the Oxford and Leonard village councils, all passed resolutions opposing the RTA tax because officials felt it would have led to northern Oakland County residents receiving little or nothing service-wise in exchange for their tax dollars.

The RTA will not be able to put another millage request on the ballot for two years.

 

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