Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes on Berkley Millage Question

As Chairman of the campaign promoting a "YES VOTE" in the Tuesday, August 7th millage in Berkley, I am thankful for this opportunity, through the Patch, to encourage everyone to vote.

This campaign has been a real education for me. Like my colleagues on the Berkley Citizens Advisory Committee, I took that task seriously. I came to understand the extensive cuts the city has already made; I saw the financial trends and concluded, along with 14 of the 15 members of that Committee, that a 3 mill increase was both reasonable and necessary. It is in fact essential if we are to avoid what has happened in other cities and if we are to preserve the quality of life we all value in Berkley.

I believe our neighbors are reasonable and that they understand the importance of this vote for the future of Berkley. As I thought about the possibility of losing just our curbside leaf pick-up service alone, I realized that if I had to bag my own leaves in the Fall, at $2 per bag it would cost me more than this millage increase. 

Those who understand how the Headlee Amendment works realize that this millage will begin to roll back just as soon as it is instituted. It was amazing to me that it has been 53 years since Berkley passed a millage. That is a tribute to Councils down the years who carefully managed city finances, just as our current Council has.

Please cast a decisive VOTE TOMORROW to keep Berkley strong and to keep our hometown one that makes you proud.

Sincerely,

Tim Gaudet, Chairman Taxpayers for Berkley's Future