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At Monday's Superior Township Board of Trustees meeting Supervisor William McFarlane said something separates the township from other areas in Metro Detroit - Superior is in good financial health.
“We are not hurting for money and we have good reserves on all the funds,” McFarlane said.
The board voted unanimously to lower the fire and law enforcement millage rates by .2 mills for the 2010 budget year. Additionally, as it did last year, the board did not vote to add a one percent tax administration fee to the General Fund.
“We've never passed a tax administration fee but most communities do,” McFarlane said at Monday evening’s meeting.
He added, some communities may have a lower millage but their boards chose to pass the fee, which does not require citizen approval.
McFarlane said the township’s police and fire services would not diminish due to the tax cuts. If it becomes necessary, the township can utilize its reserves to maintain the current level, but McFarlane does not believe it would be necessary.
“I think it's great that we can lower taxes, even if it's just a little bit,” said Township Clerk David Phillips.
The fire millage was lowered from 3 mills to 2.90 while the law enforcement millage has gone down from 2.25 to 2.15. The general fund rate remained the same at .8192. A millage is the amount of tax per $1,000 of approximately half its market value. For instance, a house with a market value of $100,000 in Superior Township would pay $107.50 a year for law enforcement.
McFarlane said the township is in good financial health because the municipality saved its money when times were good.
“When we built the new township hall we paid cash...we saved up a fair amount of money,” he said.
As an example, he also said, several employees are leaving the township and they will not be replaced saving cost in the general fund.
“Township residence have supported us in the past and we are trying to return that now,” McFarlane said. “We are in good shape and I see us continuing...the economy will turn around and we will be in even better shape.”
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Superior looks to reduce police, fire millages