Troy citizens handily defeated the city’s request for a tax increase by a nearly 2-to-1 vote margin Tuesday.
The millage, which called for a 1.9 mill increase for five years, was voted down 12,631 to 7316, with 63 percent of the vote against it, according to unofficial results posted on the city’s Web site just after midnight. The millage would have generated $37.7 million over five years, according to the city. By defeating the millage, the citizens saved $196 on the average Troy tax bill.
“People were totally convinced that a massive tax hike in this horrible economy was bad for Troy working families,” said Glenn Clark, a Troy activist. “People are fighting mad.”
The anti-millage group Troy Citizens United mounted a campaign to defeat the millage. They had a Web site and held forums in coffee shops, local churches and a local college.
“I was afraid the city with its big machine was going to win,” said Janice Daniels of Troy Citizens United.
Troy City Manager John Szerlag said last week that if the millage failed, he would recommend closing the library.
Daniels gave a warning to any city council members who voted to close the library.
“When they do that, the first person who votes for that, I will have a recall petition for immediately,” she said.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.