Pittsfield Township Voters Pass 10-year Public Safety Tax

Pittsfield Township voters showed overwhelming support for 10-year, 1.95-mill public safety tax in Tuesday’s election.

The measure passed with 71.84 percent of the vote, 2,653-1,040.

Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal said she was pleasantly surprised by the margin of victory.

“I am extremely excited for the future of Pittsfield Charter Township," she said.

"The township has made a steadfast commitment to providing the continued level of outstanding public safety services to all of our residents and businesses,” she said. “(The margin of victory) is very humbling message to the administration that we are following the lead of what the residents want and working on their behalf. It places the burden on our shoulders to continue to meet their needs.”

Voter turnout was low, ranging from 1.5 percent to 20.76 percent of registered voters in the township’s 11 precincts.

Prior to the vote, township officials said passage of the proposal would prevent layoffs of firefighters and police officers and maintain public safety service.

Pittsfield Township residents currently pay 1 mill for public safety, although 60 percent of the department is funded by the general fund. The public safety millage pays for the salaries and benefits of 15 firefighters, 15 police officers, three dispatchers and a community coordinator. In all, there are 72 employees in the public safety department in the township of 35,824 people.

Township leaders said the increased millage was necessary because of the strains on the general fund. According to Grewal, the pressure on the general fund is due to declining state revenue sharing payments, plummeting property tax revenues, a decline in interest revenues and the debt burden caused by the township’s land purchases in the previous decade.