Title
Resolution Providing FY20 Budget Policy Direction Consistent with the Results of the Community Survey on the Recommended Allocation of the 2017 Washtenaw County Mental Health and Public Safety Millage Proceeds of $2.2M Annually
Body
Whereas, On November 7, 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 which, after reflecting normal taxable value growth, will total approximately $20 million over the eight-year period;
Whereas, On September 18, 2017, City Council adopted a resolution stating it was Council's intent to utilize the Mental Health & Public Safety Millage proceeds for the duration of the eight-year millage 40% for affordable housing, 40% for climate action programs, and 20% for pedestrian safety;
Whereas, The actual millage ballot language did not contain any reference to Council's proposed allocations and the extent to which voters were aware of the proposed allocations is not clear;
Whereas, The City's receipt of an incremental and unrestricted revenue stream of this magnitude is unprecedented and given the lack of clarity on resident preferences, City Council determined it would be both appropriate and informative to seek input from taxpayers on their preferences regarding how the new revenue should be utilized;
Whereas, On November 19, 2018, City Council adopted resolution #18-1909 to conduct a survey of Ann Arbor residents to assess their preferences on how the millage proceeds should be spent, and on December 17, 2018, City Council re-affirmed its desire to conduct the millage proceeds survey by adopting resolution #18-2118 which provided specific guidance on the citizen survey;
Whereas, The resident survey was a closed, representative, and statistically-valid survey with over 1,000 residents participating and the results of the survey were tabulated and analyzed by National Research Center Inc. and reporte...
Click here for full text