With no police millage on the books, Independence Township takes questions Oct. 19
Voters rejected a 3.2-mill police millage in August. The township is asking again Nov. 3 and will hold a town hall Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m.
By OCJ Staff
Independence Township is going back to voters Nov. 3 for a police millage they turned down in August, and township officials will take questions at a town hall later this month.
The town hall is Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. at Independence Township Hall, 6483 Waldon Center Drive, according to the Clarkston News, which noted the start time may change. No board action is planned at the meeting.
What's on the ballot
The proposal would levy up to 3.2 mills for four years, starting in December 2026, to pay for police service. The township contracts with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
The township's previous police levy of 2.8282 mills expired in December 2025, so the township currently collects no police millage. The new rate is about 0.37 mill higher than the old one — roughly $37 a year more per $100,000 of taxable value than residents paid under the expired levy, according to the Clarkston News.
In August, voters rejected the same 3.2-mill police millage, 54% to 46%. A separate Clarkston Community Schools school resource officer millage also failed. The November proposal does not include the school resource officer piece.
The numbers
According to figures reported by the Clarkston News:
- The sheriff's contract cost $6.28 million in 2025 and $6.85 million in 2026, with a base of $7.48 million in 2027.
- The township assumes 10% annual increases after that.
- The millage would raise about $7.65 million a year.
- Even if it passes, the township projects shortfalls of about $80,000 in 2027 and $576,000 in 2028, to be covered from a police fund holding $3.4 million.
- Seven capital projects have been paused.
Supervisor Chuck Phyle has called the proposal a replacement rather than an additional tax and acknowledged "a little bit of bad messaging" earlier. He warned that if it fails, Michigan State Police response times could be "two to three times longer," the Clarkston News reported.
Former Supervisor Pat Kittle has formed a committee to promote the millage.
The Flock factor
The vote comes after the township board voted 7-0 on Sept. 8 to end its contract with Flock Safety, which had eight license plate cameras in the township, and ordered all township data since 2024 purged, with an affidavit certifying the purge, according to FOX 2 and WDIV. The township had authorized legal action if needed to make sure the data was removed. The Detroit News has reported that the backlash over Flock cameras is hanging over police millage votes in several Detroit-area communities.
This story uses reporting from the Clarkston News, FOX 2, WDIV/ClickOnDetroit and The Detroit News.