Chelsea Fire Authority Asks Voters to Renew 1.8 Public Safety Millage in November

Voters in the City of Chelsea and surrounding townships will decide whether or not to approve a 1.8 public safety millage renewal on Nov. 6.

If approved by voters, the renewal request will pay for fire, rescue and first responder operations for the Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) for the next five years. 

CAFA Chief Jim Payeur said if the millage does not pass, fire operations will either be paid out of the township’s or city’s general fund, or through a special assessment.

"Some municipalities have special assessment districts in place for fire protection, so I would imagine those fees would go into effect," Payeur said.

The allocation model for each municipality’s fire costs will be based on taxable value, population, and hours of run, he said.

For example, if there’s a fire in Sylvan Township, the cost for fire protection for that township’s residents will go up. With a millage in place, that would not happen because each municipality is paying the same amount.

The Chelsea Fire Authority covers the City of Chelsea, Lima Township, Sylvan Township, Lyndon Township, and two miles of Dexter Township.

"We've worked diligently to keep our operational costs down," Payeur said. "One thing we've noticed in the past four years is property values have been going down or stayed the same. In response we've tightened our belt up. It's not a good time to ask for an increase in the millage."

Payeur said the CAFA board has demonstrated repeatedly that it is fiscally responsible during a slower economy.

"We renovated an old building instead of purchasing a new one for our station, we replaced 1976 aerial ladders at minimal cost, and we continue to maintain staffing and training to help residents with better fire insurance rates," he said. "If we get the chance to renew this millage, I'm confident we can to continue to provide quality service."

Payeur said several informational meetings will be held in the coming weeks to talk with local residents.

Meetings scheduled so far include:

Chelsea: Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. during the regular city council meeting.

Lima Township: Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. during the regular township board meeting.

Lyndon Township: Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. during the regular township board meeting.

Sylvan Township: Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. during the regular township board meeting.

To view a sample of the ballot language for the upcoming millage vote, visit the Washtenaw County Clerk's website and click on the "proposals" link.