Clarkston voters reject 25-vote millage
City leaders must find new funding for police and fire after a narrow defeat leaves services funded only through June.
By Marco Graham ·
Clarkston voters rejected a proposed tax increase for emergency services on Tuesday by a margin of 25 votes. The 7-mill, four-year public safety proposal failed to gain approval, leaving city officials without the anticipated revenue to cover rising operational costs.
A total of 284 ballots were cast against the measure. The millage was designed to offset annual cost increases for police, fire, and EMS services, which the city contracts with Independence Township to provide. If the measure had passed, homeowner costs would have varied based on property tax value, with potential reductions possible if the operating budget changed.
City Manager Jonathan Smith acknowledged the difficulty of the vote. He noted that residents are facing numerous household expense hikes, a pressure he shared. Smith explained that the city has absorbed annual cost increases for the past two years but can no longer sustain that financial burden. He stated the city faces a frightening prospect if it loses access to basic emergency services.
Carol Eberhardt, a resident and former city manager, voted in favor of the millage. She attributed the defeat partly to a lack of trust regarding a promise that the general fund millage might be rolled back if the public safety tax passed. Eberhardt praised the local fire department and warned that the council now faces complex budget gymnastics to solve the funding gap.
The defeat creates immediate uncertainty for city finances. Smith confirmed that current emergency services are funded only through June. He said the city is still determining how to bridge the gap between now and that deadline. The Clarkston City Council is scheduled to discuss its options at its meeting on Monday, November 9.
