Title
Resolution to Conduct a Survey of Ann Arbor Residents to Assess Community Preferences Regarding the City's Spending of County Mental Health & Public Safety Millage Proceeds
Body
Whereas, In November 2017, Washtenaw County voters approved an eight-year Mental Health & Public Safety Millage that will provide the City of Ann Arbor with $2.2M annually in unrestricted revenue beginning in FY19;
Whereas, After reflecting normal taxable value growth, the total unrestricted revenue to the City over the eight-year period will be approximately $20 million;
Whereas, The City's receipt of such a large sum of new, incremental, unrestricted revenue is unprecedented and it would be wholly appropriate and fiscally responsible to seek input from taxpayers on their preferences regarding how the new revenue should be utilized;
Whereas, In September 2017, City Council adopted a resolution stating it was Council's intent to utilize the Mental Health & Public Safety Millage proceeds (if approved by voters) with an allocation of 40% for affordable housing, 40% for climate action programs, and 20% for pedestrian safety;
Whereas, In an April 2018 survey conducted by Citizens for Mental Health & Public Safety (CMHPS), 59% of respondents indicated they had no awareness of the Council resolution of intent and another 16% were only vaguely aware;
Whereas, There was no reference/language in the Mental Health & Public Safety Millage ballot proposal related to Ann Arbor's planned spending on Climate Action programs, Affordable Housing or Pedestrian Safety;
Whereas, 77% of respondents to the CMHPS survey indicated they expected the revenues from the millage would be devoted to mental health and public safety services, which is consistent with the lack of awareness of the Council resolution of intent and the fact there was no reference in the ballot proposal itself to funding for climate action programs, affordable housing, or pedestrian safety;
Whereas, Based on the results o...
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