Title
Resolution to Order Election and to Determine Ballot Question for Charter Amendment for the 2012 Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage (7 Votes Required)
Memorandum
For 30 years the Street Resurfacing/Reconstruction Millage, augmented with matching funds from Federal and State grants, has been the principal funding source for resurfacing and reconstruction of the City’s streets and bridges. On November 8, 2011, we wish to ask the voters to approve a 2-mill Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage for the next five years (2012-2016). If approved, this amounts to $214.00 annually for a property with an average market value of $214,000.00.
In 1988, 1991, 1996, 2001 and again in 2006 the voters in Ann Arbor approved the collection of two mills annually for the resurfacing and reconstruction of streets. These millages, the last of which will be collected in July 2011, replaced a prior major street millage (1.5 mills for five years beginning in 1984), and prior bond issues ($3M in 1982 and 1986) and general funds for local streets.
For 2007-2011, the total millage proceeds are estimated at $46M. This money has been used and will be used for two primary purposes. 1) Street and bridge resurfacing and reconstruction projects; and 2) the City’s match for Federal Aid funds for major street and bridge reconstructions & rehabilitation projects.
The first purpose includes the Annual Street Resurfacing Program, which addresses the resurfacing or reconstruction of residential and major streets as a single large project that is bid every spring. It also includes street reconstruction projects that are bid individually, often with the inclusion of associated utility work. These projects have included such major streets as Pontiac Street, Huron River Drive, Liberty Street (downtown), Broadway Street, Geddes Road, Beakes Street, and Boardwalk/Victors Way. In the last five years, approximately 100 streets were repaved. The total ex...
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