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Keep Ypsi Rollin’ Announces Election Changed
Ypsilanti voters will have two chances this year to demonstrate their support for public transit as a critical service to the city. Keep Ypsi Rollin’ has learned that the “Charter Amendment for Public Transit” appearing on the City’s August 3rd primary ballot will not count due to a technicality, and will reappear on the ballot on November 2, 2010.
Under State law, a charter amendment may not be decided on a primary election ballot. Since the City of Ypsilanti’s ballots for the August primary have already been printed including the Charter Amendment for Public Transit, voters will see the measure on August 3, but the vote will not count. The measure will reappear on the November general election ballot for an actual decision.
Keep Ypsi Rollin’ encourages all supporters of public transit to vote YES in both August and November.
“Ypsilanti understands the importance of public transit,” said Richard Murphy of Keep Ypsi Rollin’. “We are disappointed that the August vote will not count, but we see this as an opportunity to let even more people know that they have the chance to support transit service.”
The Charter Amendment would provide secure, dedicated funding for the City of Ypsilanti’s contract for bus service via AATA. This service has been threatened by budget cuts over the past several years, and City and AATA officials have indicated that a “no” vote on this Charter Amendment would probably result in drastic cuts or complete elimination of Ypsilanti’s bus service. Over 600,000 riders board AATA buses every year in the City of Ypsilanti, using The Ride to get to work or school, to get to the doctor, or to buy groceries. Losing bus service would strand these riders, hurting Ypsilanti’s tax base and local economy.
The Ypsilanti City Council has expressed its support of the Charter Amendment. Mayor Paul Schreiber says, “Between now and November let’s get the message out: The transportation charter amendment will ensure AATA bus service in Ypsilanti and provide a foundation to improve bus and rail transportation throughout Washtenaw County. Vote for the transportation amendment on August 3 and November 2!”
Keep Ypsi Rollin’ (KYR) is a ballot question committee formed to pass this important measure. KYR will hold events, educate voters and raise funds for the purpose of helping Ypsilanti protect long term public transit for its citizens, businesses and future!
News release from Keep Ypsi Rollin (KYR) committee
keep ypsi rollin’
AY PAC asks voters to support and pass Headlee Override Amendment
In September 2009, a resolution added to the agenda by Council Member Pete Murdock obligated the City to funding of AATA through revenue generated by an additional millage requiring a Headlee override.*
Now Ypsilanti City Council, has passed a resolution putting a ballot proposal for this Headlee override request and a charter amendment to the voters on the August primary election. If passed, Ypsilanti will have dedicated funds for public transit needs which currently consist of AATA local bus service costs.
In short, if passed, homeowners taxes will go up .9 mils, or about 1.5%. In actuality however, most homeowners taxes are going down an average of 10% due to lowered property values. If the Headlee amendment passes, most would realize a net decrease of about 8.5%.
As this ballot proposal resolution was supported by the entire City Council, the vote to bring it to the voters was unanimous. Murdock initiated the amendment and had suggested that increased revenues would become necessary as long as a year ago. Mayor Schreiber also supports this and did so at the meeting with both his comments and his vote.
The concern AY PAC has is getting the voters to pass this. In this heavily anti-tax environment, any tax increase needs a strong campaign for it to pass.
While Murdock initiated the process to put it to the voters, he timed it so that his campaign for mayor is occurring at the same time. He will be busy as that race will be hotly contested. Will Murdock champion it with the voters? Pete is a seasoned campaigner, so if he does champion this tax increase, AY PAC is sure it will pass.
AY PAC joins the Mayor and Council in encouraging all voters to support this proposal on the August ballot. Let’s ensure that we pass the Headlee Override Amendment.
* Council Resolution 2009-193 (9/8/2009) – ”And Further Resolved that lacking any progress on the establishment of a regional transit authority and the accompanying scheduling of an election, the City Council will place on the November 2010 general election ballot a Headlee Rollback proposal that captures and designates the increased revenues solely for funding public transportation.” [Note that the proposal will actually appear on the August 3rd primary election ballot.]
posted by B. Bashert