Among local ballot initiatives this November, Clawson residents will vote on whether or not to maintain the current level of garbage and rubbish collection and disposal services.
The Clawson City Council unanimously voted at Tuesday's meeting to submit a ballot proposal asking whether or not to increase taxes by 0.8482 mills ($0.85 per thousand dollars of taxable value) in perpetuity beginning in 2014. It is estimated that the increase would raise approximately $265,000 when first levied in 2014, based on property values.
The city is allowed to levy a tax of up to 3 mills for garbage and rubbish collection and disposal, known as the "Rubbish Tax." However, limitations placed upon by the city by the state of Michigan through the "Headlee" Amendment have Clawson residents paying 2.1518 mills.
"We're at a point where we're having to tap our general fund just to pay for services," said City Manager and Finance Director Mark Pollack at Tuesday's meeting. "We spent the reserve we had built up over about a four-year period over the last five years. ... To provide the same services, we need to un-tap."
If the proposal doesn't pass by the voters, Pollack continued, the city would need to re-consider some of the services offered. However, even if the proposal does pass by the voters, the entire millage rate may not necessarily be levied.
Looking for a way to cut down on Clawson's trash pickup cost? Mayor Penny Luebs explained that the city is paid for the amount of recyclables which residents contribute, while the city pays for trash to be taken away.
"The more we recycle, the less we pay in our garbage bill," Luebs said.
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