Getting the Vote Out

Decision 2010

Millage up for renewal to aid parks

Oakland County voters will be asked Aug. 3 to approve a 10 year renewal of the countywide parks millage.

The 0.2415-mill property tax renewal would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $87,500 about $21 a year. It would raise an estimated $12.4 million in 2011, about 60% of the county parks budget, communi cations director Desiree Stan field said.

The budget pays for facilities and maintenance of 13 county parks, as well as some programs at community parks, and tech nical assistance for community recreation departments, Stan field said.

Oakland’s parks, although mostly far from the county’s southeast communities, lower their flood risks while raising their property values, Michigan Suburbs Alliance executive di rector Conan Smith said.

Ferndale resident Dan Har teau, 59, said he opposed the millage renewal because “if I’m putting $21 into parks, I’d put it into our local parks.”