Clawson

One more chance to attend a millage meeting

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLAWSON — Clawson officials held their first of two meetings with the public Jan. 18 to discuss the upcoming 4.23-mill general operating millage question.

Residents got an opportunity to ask questions of administrators about the city’s finances and the specifics of the millage request, which will appear on the Feb. 28 ballot.

The city is asking voters to continue a Headlee override millage of 2 mills approved in 2003, which has been rolled back to 1.92 mills and would otherwise expire in 2013, plus an additional 2.31 mills. The request would bring the city’s millage rate to 15 mills.

“Clawson has lost about $100 million in taxable value,” said City Manager Mark Pollock. “For us, that’s a 25-29 percent cut. What we’ve done here over the years has been very helpful to the budget. We’ve tried to do our part as employees.”

Pollock said many residents have called him to ask what the city has done to cut its costs, and what employees have conceded to in order to improve the budget.

Pollock said the city has been cutting back since 1999 by reaching new labor agreements for new hires and healthcare changes with unions. Since 2000, the city has cut its full-time workforce from 62 employees to 47 employees. Unions have accepted concessions including pay cuts, healthcare changes and changes to legacy costs, among other things. The Police Department has restructured itself by reorganizing and eliminating positions, cutting shifts, allowing the city to contract dispatch and jail services, and reducing the shift minimum staffing, among other things. The Clawson Command Officers Association is currently under the salary rate that was in effect in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

If the millage does not pass, Pollock said it would be up to the members of City Council how the city should proceed with eliminating a $1.6 million revenue gap.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘This is just another threat,’” Pollock said. “Honestly, it’s not.”

Several residents in the audience at the town hall meeting indicated the length of the millage, 10 years, gave them pause. Pollock said economic indicators show the economy will not improve enough in five years to fix the city’s budget, and he would be forced to ask for another millage soon.

Resident Peg Lindsey said she couldn’t believe that.

“We’re just asking for lesser time,” said Lindsey, a resident since 1977. “I’m old, I’ve seen the deep depression. No way in hell would I vote for 10 years, and a lot of people feel that way.”

Other residents at the meeting said they plan to support the millage on Feb. 28.

“I think Clawson has done what they can,” said Laurel Nottaje, a resident since 1975. Nottaje said she is a retiree living on a fixed income, but will still vote in favor of the millage.

The city will hold one more town hall meeting on the millage proposal at 7 p.m. Feb. 22. The meeting will be at City Hall, 425 N. Main St. in Clawson.

Residents can download information about the millage at www. cityofclawson.com.

For voting information, call the City Clerk’s Office at (248) 435-4100, ext. 116, or visit www.cityof clawson.com.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.