An unusually large crowd attended the Clarkston City Council meeting on June 12 as council members held a public hearing on the 2006-2007 proposed budget.
The issues of police coverage and street maintenance in several Clarkston neighborhoods dominated the public hearing which lasted over an hour.
Council Member Steve Wylie started the debate by making a general comment that he would like the council to consider contracting full police services through the Independence Township Oakland County Sheriff’s substation.
‘I’m just concerned if we have a bad winter, we won’t make these numbers. So I would like to have some more leeway and save the citizens some millage,? said Wylie, who stated the millage rate could be lowered a good amount from the current 13.1979.
‘I think everyone is in favor of saving money, but I’d like to know exactly what we got for less money and compare that to what we’re getting now. And if we were to consider this, I think a committee and probably a citizens? committee and not a council committee so somebody independent researches it, if we even want to pursue it at all,? said Council Member Cory Johnston.
Council Member Dan Colombo raised the question of whether the savings of a mill or mill and half would be worth sacrificing the service provided by the Clarkston Police Department.
Clarkston resident Ginny Schultz expressed concern about switching back to service from the Sheriff’s Department which she considered inadequate before Clarkston established its own police department in the early 1990s.
‘We can’t be sold a bill of goods again that the sheriff’s department will cover the village,? said Schultz, who complained that calls to the department in the past took as long as 45 minutes for response.
Resident Tom Stone commented that it was an error on part of the council to consider the question of a police department during a budget discussion because he believes matters of ‘public safety should not be tied to saving taxes.?
The issue of roads, particularly the condition of Wompole and Robertson Court, also sparked debate. Several residents expressed frustration about the rate at which the board has addressed the issue of deteriorating roads and disagreed when some board members suggested the public budget hearing was not the venue to discuss such major change.
‘I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t think there’s not a problem on Wompole,? said Colombo, agreeing there was a problem.
Resident Robyn Johnston asked repeatedly throughout the discussion for a date when residents can expect some kind of action on the road issues.
‘Why is this not a budget issue?? asked Johnston.
While few specific numbers were discussed in lieu of the broader issues, some key numbers from the 2006-2007 budget are as follows:
? $774,954 in total revenues down from $776,154.45
? $751,789 in total expenditures down from $769,647.93
? 3 percent wage increases for city employees excluding the police chief and a 3.5 percent increase for City Manager Art Pappas.
? $8,500 for work on the master plan
? $155,625 for fire services up from $153,545
? $32,500 for library services down from $37,148
? $239,361 for police up from $230,007.93
? 2006 General Fund millage rate is 13.979
? Tentative taxable value is $47,118,120
(Numbers used for comparison are all from the 2005-2006 numbers provided by City Manager Art Pappas)
The Council will vote on the 2006-2007 budget at the June 26 meeting.
Council Member Scott Meyland was absent from the meeting and Kristy Ottman had to leave just after the closing of the public hearing.