Title
2011 Street Reconstruction Millage - Proposed Public Engagement Process
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor’s Street Reconstruction Millage (“Street Millage”) will expire at the end of 2011. Since the 1980s, the Street Millage has provided critical funding - and the ability to leverage matching federal and state dollars - to ensure the quality of Ann Arbor streets. City staff intend to recommend that City Council consider ballot language on August 4th that would authorize the placement of a Street Millage on the November 8th ballot.
This year also marks the conclusion of the multi-year, city-wide sidewalk inspection and repair program. By the end of this summer, all sidewalks that have been marked for repair will have been repaired properly. City staff have received citizen feedback regarding the sidewalk program, indicating that the public interest may be better served if the City of Ann Arbor, rather than property owners, were to assume responsibility for sidewalk repairs on an ongoing basis. This feedback aligns with the City of Ann Arbor’s proven commitment to meeting the community’s diverse transportation needs and desires. Maintaining the sidewalks in a manner consistent to the way city streets are maintained supports ease of use not only for motorists but also pedestrians and cyclists, people using strollers, and people using walkers or wheelchairs.
If the City were to assume responsibility for sidewalk repairs, a funding stream would need to be identified. Because the sidewalk inspection and repair cycle has been completed, City staff estimate that an ongoing commitment to repairing sidewalks city-wide could be satisfied with approximately $500,000 per year, or the equivalent of a 0.125-mill tax for property owners. This magnitude of millage translates to approximately $13.37 for a resident with an average assessed home value of $107,000 (market value $214,000). As a point of reference, a 5-ft x 5-ft flag of sidewalk may cost property owners...
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