Proposals for a bond issue and operating millage to expand and maintain Oxford Township’s safety path network were sent back to committee last week to examine how including village taxpayers would affect the numbers presented.
The township’s safety path committee ? which consists of Treasurer Joe Ferrari, Trustee Pat Fitchena and Planning Commissioner Sam Liberto ? recommended placing a $6.715 million, 10-year bond proposal on the November ballot for the unincorporated portion of the township (excluding the village).
Construction of eight safety paths along such roads as W. Drahner and Seymour Lake roads would be financed by this bond proposal, which would be paid for by a voter-approved property tax levy of 1.25 mills the first year and an average rate of 1.17 mills.
Ferrari noted as more residents move into the township, the bond millage rate would decrease. He said that was a ‘big selling factor? to the committee.
Bond proposal for five, 10 and 15 years were considered by the committee, but Ferrari said they felt five years was ‘too short? and ‘too much of a millage,? and 15 years was ‘too long.?
Ferrari said the committee felt 10 years was a ‘good compromise in the middle? and a ‘pretty fair amount.?
The safety path committee also recommended placing a 0.40-mill operating tax levy over the unincorporated portion of the township on the November ballot. This operating millage would start after the third year of the bond and be used for maintenance of the current and expanded safety path network.
‘We understand that this millage rate will roll back each year, but we are hopeful that our taxable value increase(s) will make up for any financial difference,? wrote the safety path committee in a memo to the board.
Resident Sue Bellairs, current candidate for township trustee, argued the township should use the tax money residents are ‘already paying? to ‘slowly build up the safety paths.? She recommended officials cut spending in other areas to find the money for safety paths rather than put a request on the ballot.
Trustee Shirley Clancy said a ballot proposal is the ‘best chance? for obtaining the funds needed to expand the township’s safety path network.
Clancy said the reason the township is currently lacking in safety paths is because the funds previously didn’t exist within the budget to construct them. As for future budgets, she noted the township is facing revenue sharing cuts from the state and unfunded mandates from the federal government.
The trustee said she is in favor of giving voters a choice when it comes to funding safety paths.
‘To not put this on the ballot denies them the choice,? Clancy said.
Bellairs told officials ‘everybody? in the entire township, including the village, should be included in the bond and operating millage proposals if they go to the ballot.
‘It’s not fair to just tax part of this community,? Bellairs said. ‘Village people use the township safety paths.?
Bellairs argued that village residents use township safety paths to get to township parks and village children use township safety paths to walk to schools located in the township.
‘They (village residents) are going to use those safety paths,? she said.
Ferrari noted the committee was directed by the township board to calculate the bond and operating millage figures for the unincorporated township only.
Township officials voted April 14 to direct the committee to put together a suggested safety path millage proposal for the November ballot for the unincorporated township only.
Ferrari told officials they can direct the committee to go back and rework the proposals to include village taxpayers.
Doing this ‘will bring down these numbers? because there would be ‘more taxable value to calculate,? Ferrari noted.
Clerk Clara Sanderson said she would like to see both options brought before the board, including and excluding the village, for review.
Clancy said if the safety path bond and operating millage proposals are placed on the November ballot, they should be for the unincorporated portion of the township. However, she was supportive of having proposals including the village researched and brought back before the board for review.
A motion by Ferrari to direct the safety path committee to ‘work with the proper bond counsel and financial adviser? to draft ballot language for a 10-year bond and 0.40-mill operating tax over the unincorporated township failed in a 4-3 vote.
As a result, Ferrari asked for direction from the board as to how to proceed. He asked if the board would like the committee to re-examine the proposals and ‘provide both sets of numbers? ? unincorporated township only and entire township including the village.
It was the consensus of a majority of the board to bring back the proposals for another review with figures including the village.
However, Supervisor Bill Dunn and trustees Charles Kniffen and Jerry Dywasuk expressed their desire to ‘drop? the safety path ballot proposal altogether.
Kniffen said he would like to see more safety paths constructed, but he believes a lot of the work can be accomplished through the planning commission by requiring new developments to install them.
Dywasuk said he opposes the township’s pattern of wasting money in other areas in which voters have no choice ? such as attorney bills and participating in the Oxford Community Development Authority’s tax base ? and then going to the residents to ask for more money ‘every time it’s something we think they might be willing to vote for.?
Dywasuk said having the money for things like safety paths is a ‘matter of budgeting and setting priorities.?