The special Dorr Township Roads Committee is laying out a plan to inform voters about the need to pass a three-mill request for repairs, improvements and paving of local roads
Voters will see a three-mill request on the ballot in the Aug. 2 primary election.
A similar request was soundly defeated in a special election last May 5, but committee members, all of whom are Dorr Township residents, said they believe the result was inflenced heavily by a wildly unpopular Michigan state-wide referendum to secure funding for state roads, among many other things .
Also rejected almost a year ago was a millage to help modernize Dorr Volunteer Fire Department equipment.
Roads Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Sandel said a greater effort will be made to inform voters of the facts about the township budget and basic road maintenance and improvement.
Township Treasurer Jim Martin, also a Roads Committee member, explained that only 5% of the average property tax bill goes stays in Dorr Township to fund the library, parks, fire protection, police protection and a number of other budget items, including road maintenance and improvement. He added that current property taxes for roads all go to Allegan County.
Sandel commented that if the people of Dorr Township understand that only five cents of every property tax dollar goes to the township and must be divided among a dozen priority items, they will vote for the special millage.
“Every penny of the proposed millage will go for road maintenance and improvement (in Dorr Township); it is a dedicated fund that cannot by law be diverted to other areas,” she said.
Mrs. Sandel stressed that the Road Committee meetings the second Wednesday of the month are open to the public and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
“Public forums are also planned to give the people of Dorr an opportunity to learn more about the referendum and express their opinions,” she added.
Have you driven on the roads in Dorr lately? Enough said, we need a road millage. The paved roads are a mess and need emergency repairs. The dirt roads are unsafe and need basic refurbishment. Dorr gets five cents of every property tax dollar to pay for parks, library, police, fire and yes, road repair. The vast majority of Townships around Dorr have a road millage; Salem has had one for over 30 years and unlike Dorr, they have decent roads.