City of Romulus seeks voter approval of 4 mills for fire, police services

The City of Romulus will ask voters to approve a ballot proposal that would provide funding to maintain the current level of fire and police services in the community – and to avoid cuts in essential services.
The city council voted unanimously June 11 to place a proposed charter amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot. The proposal seeks 4 mills annually for a period of five years to be utilized strictly for fire and police services.
City officials said fire and police services make up more than two-thirds of the city’s general fund budget. Romulus Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff said public safety is a vital service that government provides. Failure to approve the millage increase would lead to cuts in funding for fire, police and other essential services.
“We’re asking residents to invest in public safety,” Mayor Burcroff said. “By law, the millage funds could only be used to help support fire and police services.”
History has led to the current financial situation. When Romulus incorporated as a city in 1970, the city charter called for 10 mills to fund local government in what was largely then a farming community. When the full-time police department was formed in 1983, there was no increase in the millage rate. When the full-time fire department was formed in 1999, again, there was no increase in the millage rate.
While the number of city employees, firefighters and police officers has decreased, the demands on first responders have significantly increased.
Ten years ago, there were 30 firefighters (15 full-time and 15 paid on call). Today, there are only 15 full-time and four part-time firefighters. Ten years ago, firefighters were responding to an average of eight calls per day. Today, crews average 14 calls per day, which is more than 5,000 per year.
There were 57 police officers in 2008-09 and there are 43 currently. Meanwhile, police runs increased from 17,064 in 2009 to 20,607 in 2017.
“We are talking about essential services here,” Mayor Burcroff said. “These are must-have services. When you pick up a phone and dial 9-1-1, a professionally trained person shows up as soon as possible. That must be sustained. We have done a lot of creative things. We owe it to the residents to be part of the solution.”
The Mayor said the city administration has been fiscally responsible, creating service partnerships with Detroit Metropolitan Airport and other agencies, using grant writers, seeking sponsors for special events and creating foundations.
“We are making good spending decisions,” Mayor Burcroff said. “We are doing more with less. I stand by our record. We have been very responsible with tax dollars. We have done a good job.”
The night of the city council vote to place the millage proposal on the ballot, a number of letters from people and organizations in the community were read to the council meeting audience.
Among those speaking at the meeting were Romulus Police Sgt. Labrit Jackson, Officer Byron Paisley and Officer Rodney Cofield, along with Romulus Fire Department Lt. John Thiede, who is president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4126. All four are Romulus residents and spoke about the importance of approving the millage proposal.
Anthony Antone, executive vice president of Kojaian Management Corp., a major industrial property owner in the city, submitted a letter that read in part: “Public safety is critical because it is one of the very first things which companies looking to relocate to Romulus deem as important.”
The Board of Directors of the Greater Romulus Chamber of Commerce asked the council to approve the resolution and put it on the ballot. “Please allow our residents the right to vote on this issue,” the chamber letter stated.
Romulus residents Dan and Carole Bales said in their letter: “Public safety is important to our property values and the quality of life for the residents of the community. The community leaders have demonstrated the need for the additional funds.”
Mayor Burcroff said Romulus’ future depends on the success of the fire and police millage proposal in November.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support from residents, public safety officials, city employees, the business community and the church community,” the Mayor said. “There’s a problem and we’re trying
to fix it.”