Plymouth Residents to Vote on New Parks and Recreation Millage
Plymouth is preparing for a critical decision regarding its parks and recreation funding. On November 5, residents will have the opportunity to vote on a scaled-back parks and recreation millage that aims to improve local parks at a lower cost than a previous proposal.
The Proposal Details
The new proposal seeks to implement an 8-year, 1.2 mill increase that is expected to raise around $834,000 in the first year. Over the lifetime of the millage, the total funds generated could reach approximately $7.2 million. For homeowners with a market value of $300,000, this means an annual tax increase of about $180.
This comes after last year’s plan, which was more ambitious, was narrowly rejected by just 66 votes. In that election, 1,368 voters (51.2%) opposed the measure, while 1,302 votes (48.8%) were in favor. This feedback has greatly influenced the new proposal.
Community Feedback Shapes New Plan
Plymouth Mayor Suzi Deal emphasized that the new plan takes community input seriously. She stated, “We listened to what residents were saying and the reasons why maybe they were not in support of it.” City officials conducted surveys and held community forum discussions to gather feedback, which led to a restructured proposal focusing on key areas of concern.
Unlike the previous plan, the current proposal does not include purchasing the former Lumber Mart site, where plans were made to develop a new park. Instead, the new millage is centered around four main components:
- Deferred maintenance and equipment replacement at city neighborhood parks.
- Establishment of a multi-purpose artificial turf field in partnership with the property owner.
- Reactivation of Point Park off Starkweather Road, an important entrance to the city.
- Renovations at the Plymouth Cultural Center, including replacing all windows and acquiring a modern, fully electric Zamboni.
A Commitment to Parks
Mayor Deal noted the importance of local parks, stating, “Not very many communities have these little pocket parks within your neighborhood; they’re the beauty of the city and what makes Plymouth Plymouth. This is the opportunity for us to take care of it.”
The initiative includes plans to work with various neighborhoods to identify specific needs for each park. The revenue generated through this millage will serve as seed money to attract additional matching fund grants, potentially expanding the city’s projects beyond what the tax revenue alone could cover.
Plymouth City Manager Paul Sincock added that with a dedicated revenue source, the city would be better positioned to qualify for larger grants to fund significant community projects.
Informing the Community
In anticipation of the vote, the city is currently developing a website to provide information about the proposed parks millage. Additionally, several community forum meetings will take place before the election to discuss the details and answer questions from residents.
Call to Action
As Plymouth prepares for the upcoming election, residents are encouraged to educate themselves on the new parks and recreation millage proposal. This is a chance for the community to contribute to the future of its parks and recreational facilities.
With critical decisions ahead, local officials and residents alike are hoping for a successful outcome that balances community needs with responsible fiscal considerations.
