A small step toward improving Oxford Township’s safety path system was taken by officials last week.
Township officials voted 4-3 to place a 10-year, 0.25-mill tax request ‘for the establishment, construction and maintenance of safety paths? on the August 2008 primary election ballot.
‘A lot of people that I have talked to are interested in it and they would be for it,? said Larry Kucemba, the planning commissioner who proposed the tax.
If approved, in its first year the millage would generate an estimated $210,000.
‘This would only result in approximately $2 million over 10 years,? Kucemba told officials.
While that’s nowhere near enough money to construct all the safety paths the township has envisioned on its master plan, it would ensure funding for continuing improvements to the system.
‘This wouldn’t be enough to complete (the safety path system), but it would be enough to possibly fill in some of the smaller gaps that we have, some of the safety problems that we have along Drahner and Seymour Lake Road, whatever the safety path committee thinks would put the funds to the best use,? Kucemba said.
Constructing the entire safety path system as planned would cost ‘somewhere around $6 to $7 million,? he noted.
The last time Kucemba pitched this tax idea to the township board in December 2006, he was asked to look into two items ? 1) Could the safety paths be paid for with special assessments on property owners? 2) What if the village is opposed to it?
Kucemba said he talked with the Michigan Townships Association and he was told special assessments are ‘not really a viable option? because each property owner would be charged the entire cost for constructing the safety path in front of their property as opposed to having the costs spread over the entire township.
‘It was (the MTA’s) opinion that wasn’t even worth pursuing,? he said.
As for the concern that the village ‘may not go along with? a safety path millage, Kucemba said it was the MTA’s opinion that ‘the township just go ahead and place it on the ballot and let the taxpayers decide whether they thought it was necessary.?
Kucemba noted the Village of Lake Orion was originally opposed to Orion Township’s recent safety path millage proposals, both of which failed in the May election, ‘but once the township went forward with it, the village did end up going along with it.?
‘It does benefit the whole community,? he said referring back to Oxford. ‘A lot of paths would tie into the village itself.?
Township officials had mixed reactions to placing the proposed tax on the ballot.
Treasurer Joe Ferrari was in favor.
Given the ‘big push? by the governor and county executive to encourage people to exercise more, he said, ‘This would be a way for us to do that.?
‘We need to get out and become more active,? Ferrari said. ‘I think Michigan’s high on the obesity list.?
But some officials, while supportive of safety paths, were concerned this isn’t the right time to ‘burden? people with more taxes in light of the state’s poor economy.
‘I’m concerned about people that can’t buy food,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘There’s a lot of people right now having trouble making ends meet. A lot of foreclosures.?
‘I just think the timing’s bad,? he noted.
‘I understand the economic times now are more difficult,? Kucemba said. ‘If (the election) were to happen today, it probably would be a difficult vote.?
However, he noted, ‘It may be less difficult in the future.?
The slow economy might be a ‘good time? to expand the safety path system in Kucemba’s opinion.
‘I think you could probably save money on some of the contractors,? he explained. ‘You may be able to get more bang for your buck now.?
Trustee Sue Bellairs feared asking for this millage in ‘bad times? could ‘jeopardize? the chances of millages ‘we really, really need? passing in the future.
‘When you really need something, I fear it would just be turned down,? she explained. ‘It isn’t a good time to put up millages.?
Bellairs noted she does ‘applaud? Kucemba for his efforts. ‘I see why you’re doing it and there is a need for it in certain areas,? she said.
Kucemba pointed out it’s ‘not a huge tax, it’s a small one.?
‘I live here and I pay taxes, and I don’t like to pay anymore than I have to, but I’d be willing to pay this,? he said.
Kucemba explained he just wanted to put the millage to a vote to see if there’s enough interest.
‘I believe that there is or else I wouldn’t be here,? he said.