Title
Resolution of Intent Regarding Potential Washtenaw County Millage to Support Community Mental Health Department, County Sheriff Operations, and Policing Jurisdictions Rebate
Body
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (the “Board of Commissioners”) is presently scheduled to consider at its July 12, 2017 meeting a proposal to place on the November 2017 ballot a ballot question to increase the tax limitation with in Washtenaw County by one (1) mill for ten (10) years to provide funding: (1) for Washtenaw County’s Community mental Health Department for Mental health Crisis, Stabilization and prevention efforts; (2) for the County Sheriff’s Office to ensure continued operations and greater cooperation with the Mental Health Community; and (3) for those local entities within Washtenaw County which maintain their own police forces (the “Millage”);
Whereas, The current Millage proposal would allocate: 37% of the total millage to the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Department (whether constituted as an agency or an authority) to be used for mental health crisis, stabilization and prevention efforts and to prevent unnecessary incarceration of individuals with mental health needs; 38% of the total millage to the Washtenaw County Sheriff to ensure continued operations and greater cooperation with the mental health community; and 25% of the total millage to those jurisdictions within the County which maintain their own police force (Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, and Northfield Township) (such jurisdictions, the “Policing Jurisdictions”, such allocation, the “General Fund Rebate”);
Whereas, In light of the fact that Policing Jurisdictions already provide substantial General Fund resources to promote policing and public safety, we believe it is appropriate to rebate a portion of Millage monies to Policing Jurisdictions for their General Fund purposes;
Whereas, It is proper for Policing Jurisdictions to identify the intended use of any funds returned to them via the General Fund Rebate in advance of a public vote;
Whereas, The identification of Ann Arbor’s contemplated usage of a General Fund Rebate prior to consideration of the Millage might prove useful to the Board of Commissioners;
Whereas, FY18 allocations to Police Services, Fire Services, and the 15th District Court account for approximately Forty Six Million Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars ($46,530,000.00) or 44.6% of the General Fund budget;
Whereas, The promotion of pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and climate action are goals that are important to the Ann Arbor community for which there are presently insufficient resources to bring municipal action in line with community aspiration; and
Whereas, The General Fund Rebate, as currently contemplated by the proposal before the Board of Commissioners, would in the first year of return to Ann Arbor between $2.3M - $2.5M;
Resolved, That mental health services and public safety are fundamental community needs and if the Board of Commissioners determines that there are insufficient resources to sustainably address these needs in a manner that meets community aspiration, City Council encourages them to seek additional funds;
Resolved, That if the Board of Commissioners puts the Millage on the November 2017 ballot, City Council intends to consider a General Fund Rebate Use Policy Resolution, which resolution would in further detail state Council’s intent to use the General Fund Rebate for the duration of the Millage in the following amounts, for the following purposes:
• 20% to improve Pedestrian Safety (e.g., Enforcement Augmentation, Crosswalk Improvements, RRFBs, Streetlights) (operating & capital)
• 40% to effect the goals of the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment (a/k/a Washtenaw County Housing Affordability and Economic Equity Analysis) and to increase Workforce Housing (operating & capital) with guidance by the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board
• 40% to effect the goals of Ann Arbor’s Climate Action Plan (operating & capital)
Sponsors: Taylor, Ackerman, Frenzel, Smith
As Amended by Ann Arbor City Council on July 3, 2017