GRAND BLANC TWP. -- Residents in Grand Blanc Township and the City of Grand Blanc will be asked to pay more in property taxes, to help fund the joint-operated fire department. The ballot proposal will ask residents in both communities to consider an increase of 0.5 mills, to double the reported $700,000 annual fire department budget.
“We keep getting unfunded mandates from the federal government,” said Township Supervisor Marilyn “Micki” Hoffman, speaking of the stiff and often expensive requirements regarding equipment and operating standards.
“Some of the (other) things we budgeted for have to go for those mandates,” she added.
The city and township merged firefighting operations in the early 1980s, Hoffman said. The department is largely operated on a volunteer force, but full time firefighters could be added if the millage passes.
The proposal will appear on the November general election ballot.
