Wayne County voters took to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to narrow the field in local government races and decide 14 ballot proposals aimed at funding schools, libraries, public safety and other local services.
In Sumpter Township, 56.7% of voters rejected a proposal to replace two expired police millages with a single 5-mil levy for police protection, operations and maintenance.
In a July 1 Facebook post, Police Chief Eric Luke said remaining funding would support operations only through the end of this year and noted that calls for service had nearly doubled over the previous five years while costs continue to increase. The proposal was expected to generate about $2.43 million in its first year.
In Dearborn, the library millage renewal easily passed with 75.47% of the vote, according to results provided by the city clerk. The one mil is $1 per $1,000 in taxable value for ten years and will generate about $4.2 million, or nearly 60% of the library’s operating budget.
In Hamtramck, voters approved by 57% of the vote the renewal of a recreation millage with Hamtramck public schools. The renewal is for 3.9289 mills, or $3.93 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation, for a period of 10 years, from 2027 to 2036. The millage helps with maintenance of parks, pools, low-cost events for children and families, among other benefits.
“The program offers low-cost programming for the children, for the entire family, free community events … and job opportunities for teenagers,” Asm Kamal Rahman, a Hamtramck resident who voted for the millage, told the Detroit Free Press while outside a polling site at Hamtramck High School. Having clean parks is important for a city known for its walkable lifestyle, he said.
“This gives an opportunity for people to come out and have a clean bench to sit and talk,” Rahman said of the money that will be used to maintain the parks.
In Grosse Ile Township, voters approved by 55% a millage to maintain current police department operations totaling 1.92 mills, or $1.92 per $1,000 of taxable value, for a period of five years, from 2026 through 2030.
Lincoln Park’s three-year police and fire millage renewal passed with 73.8% of the vote and is estimated to generate approximately $2.7 million in 2027.
Livonia’s 10-year renewal of the city’s cultural and senior services millage was easily approved with 71.5% of the vote. Revenue is estimated at approximately $1.5 million when first levied in December 2026.
Livonia’s 10-year renewal of the public safety millage also passed easily with 72.5% of the vote to fund police and fire personnel and support costs. Revenue is estimated at $9.9 million when levied in December 2026.
Northville Township’s General Operating Millage Renewal, which funds public safety, parks, senior and youth services and general operating expenses, passed with 72.7% voter approval and is estimated to generate approximately $22.6 million in 2027.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne County voters decide on millage proposals for police, schools
Reporting by Laura Colvin and Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laura Colvin and Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
