candgnews.com OCTOBER 31, 2024 Vol. 20, No. 24
PARKS MILLAGE Vote Nov. 5
SPOTLIGHT ON SENIOR LIVING
SETTING UP ESTATE SALES 18A
Learn more at OaklandCountyParks.com
0069-2439
Great Parks and Connected Communities A Greener, More Resilient Future
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, ROCHESTER NEGOTIATE WITH LIBRARY IN AN EFFORT TO RETAIN SERVICES
LIBRARY SENT NOTICE TO COMMUNITIES AFTER EACH VOTED AGAINST PUTTING A PROPOSED LIBRARY MILLAGE INCREASE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Oakland Township and Rochester are negotiating with the Rochester Hills Public Library for new contracts for services after voting against putting a library millage proposal increase on their ballots. Library Director Juliane Morian said the costs to run the library have risen over the years, but the library’s millage rate has not changed since it was approved by voters in 1924. When the library was first formed, the millage rate was set at 1 mill in perpetuity. However, the Headlee Amendment, which was introduced in the 1970s, places a constraint on how much a public entity can tax its residents so that the revenue earned from taxes cannot outpace inflation. It was designed to protect homeowners from steep tax increases due to market fluctuations. In Rochester Hills, the 1 mill is currently levied at 0.73 mill due to the Headlee rollback — which Morian said amounts to approximately $3.2 million for the library. On Aug. 6, Rochester Hills voters approved an increase of 0.39 mill for 10 years. One mill is $1 per $1,000 of a home’s taxable value. The annual cost for a home with a market value of $300,000 — which typically would have a taxable value of $150,000 — is $109.50 per year for library service. Because the proposal passed, homeowners will pay an additional $58.50, for a total of $168 annually, according to the library’s website.
Teen librarian Matt Kessler and Library Director Juliane Morian tidy up the magazine section. Photo Patricia O’Blenes
See LIBRARY on page 6A
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