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
take the initiative
On September 8 – with NO public notice, and NO opportunity for community input – Ypsilanti’s City Council voted to eliminate bus Route #5 plus reduce service hours on Route #10 and Route #11. You can support the fight to protect public transit in Ypsilanti today and for the future by joining with Advance Ypsilanti (AY PAC) for the:
Five-for-5 Initiative Kickoff
September 29, 2009
6:15 PM – 7 PM
Ypsilanti Senior Center, Recreation Park
1015 N. Congress St.
Together we can fight to protect public transit — a necessary lifeline for many, a service that benefits everyone who lives or works in Ypsilanti, a means to a more walkable and sustainable community, and a key component to the success of the Detroit-to-Ann Arbor commuter rail project.
We must maintain public transit at its current levels both now and for the future!
AY PAC’s “Five-for-5” initiative asks you to do one or more of the following:
• Take 5 minutes to email city council members and let them know you don’t approve of voting on such an important issue with no public notice or opportunity for community input!
• Spread the word to 5 friends/neighbors about the importance of public transit and how city council must not gamble with it
• Contribute $5 (or more) to AY PAC. Help us fight to protect public transit and insure that the public will be informed when decisions regarding transit and other major issues are to be made.
Join us on Tuesday, September 29 for the “Five-for-5” event in Ypsilanti to show support. Add your name to our database here.
We must resist cuts that threaten the accessibility, convenience and reliability of public transit. If we don’t act now, we will have to fight for public transit again and again. Let’s solve this problem together for the long term benefit of all.
Send email…Talk to friends/colleagues…Give to support our efforts.
posted by AY PAC committee