Lansing officials are stepping up efforts to pass a renewal of the capital city’s public safety millage in next month’s election.
The millage was first approved by Lansing voters in 2011. The intent was to replace the millions of dollars the city lost in property tax revenues after property values fell sharply during the Great Recession.
Lansing’s property tax revenues are not expected to fully rebound until well after 2020.
Mayor Virg Bernero says the millage generates around $6 million annually for Lansing’s police and fire departments. It raises an additional $2 million for road improvements in the city.
“If this millage renewal were to fail, there would have to be cuts to police and fire,” says Bernero.
Voters in Flint and Royal Oak will also be voting on public safety millage renewals in November.
