Readers Weigh In: Tax Hike Worth Berkley's City Services

At the next Berkley City Council meeting May 21, council members will decide whether or not to ask voters to approve .

The Headlee override measure is a necessity, council and members of the Citizens Advisory Committee believe, in order to keep Berkley’s current city services and not see any more cuts. With declining property values, city revenue has also been lost, Finance Director David Sabuda said.

With a proposed 3-mill increase, 2 mills will be used for operating — specifically police and fire services – and 1 mill for sanitation. The increase will mean an average of $175 more in taxes per year for the average Berkley homeowner.

Poll results

According to our poll, that average of 48 cents a day is well worth maintaining Berkley as a community with plenty of resources and services.

As of Thursday night, 66 percent of people who voted in the poll said they would be willing to vote for the proposed increase.

Only 26 percent said they would not, and another 7 percent were undecided.

What readers are saying

• One commenter, , voiced concerns about not having a sunset provision, or time limit, in the millage proposal:

"I would like to understand why there is not a sunset provision in the millage. I am more of a maybe without a sunset. When property values begin to increase again, won't the Headlee override become mute (I realize that the taxable value increase is capped - but overtime it does catch up to the value of the home assuming moderate gains in the market value).”

• Patch reader responded and said this:

"The committee determined that they should not recommend a sunset provision, rather leave that decision up to the council. The council can decide whether to add a timeline for the millage to the ballot.

On an encouraging note, and I don't remember the date, but I believe one of the Road Bonds comes off of our tax bill in the next couple of years. Berkley will continue to be one of the more affordable communities, and safest in the area."

• chimed in and added:

"Still less than what we were paying, and I want to maintain city services. You can't keep cutting."

• responded:

"I agree with Virginia. One of the reasons we've chosen to stay in Berkley is because of all the services that are available. I think the increase is a reasonable one at only 3 mils, unlike the outrageous community center and school proposals of recent years."

To learn more about the proposed millage increase, documents are available on the city website, including the Citizens Advisory Committee’s information, meeting agendas and minutes, in addition to Berkley financial details, such as trends and outlook presentations, and city services

All of these, and more, are available at BerkleyMich.org.

Come back to Berkley Patch for updates on the possible tax hike following the May 21 City Council meeting.