Community Corner

Dexter Village Water and Sewer Rates Will Increase, Millage Rate Will Remain Constant for 2012

Dexter Village Council members said they will re-examine the millage rate once a determination is made on the village's cityhood petition.

For the seventh year in a row, Dexter Village residents will see the same millage rate on their tax bills.

However, as has been the case the last six years, residents will see a 3 percent increase in their water bill and 6 percent increase in their sewer bills. Village trash rates will remain steady at $35 for the two-month period, or $17.50 per month.

Monday night, the village council originally proposed increasing its millage rate by 1.1116 mills to 14.6678 mills in order to add more funds for future street repair. After a public comment period, however, council voted to maintain the 2012-2013 millage rate at its current 13.5562.

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"We are aware the council has the ability to raise property taxes a certain amount without a vote of the people. However it is our contention that just because you can doesn't mean that you should," resident Judy Dent wrote in a letter to Trustee Jim Carson. "Please suspend your vote, develop a plan, and show the need to those whose money you will be taking and who will be paying the bill."

The village’s millage rates have been rolled back to 9.8807 mills for the general operating fund and 3.9520 mills for streets, according to information provided by Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager. Because of the Headlee Amendment, which requires voter approval for raising taxes above those authorized by the law, municipalities are required to decrease the millage rate so that the total amount of taxes paid on property increases no more than the rate of inflation.

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“As taxable values fell and the millage rate necessary to fund the general obligation bond payment increased, the millage rate was held constant by lowering the general operating millage and or the streets millage,” Nicholls said.

The maximum allowable millage for general operations is 12.5 mills and the maximum millage rate for streets is 5 mills.

Trustee Ray Tell suggested that the council wait to consider raising the millage until after a decision is made on the village's cityhood petition later this year.

"There's no denying that we have to address some of the problems with our streets sooner or later, but I personally would like to see the millage stay the same for one more year," he said. "In this time of great influx and uncertainty with our cityhood petition, I would like to wait until things settle down so we can determine where we're at financially.

"What's admirable is the amount of projects we're able to take on every year at a cost savings while still maintaining this millage. Every village should have our problem."


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