{"id":2882,"date":"2025-04-16T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/?p=2882"},"modified":"2025-04-16T06:18:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T06:18:46","slug":"muskegon-township-seeks-voter-approval-for-public-safety-millage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/muskegon-township-seeks-voter-approval-for-public-safety-millage\/","title":{"rendered":"Muskegon Township Seeks Voter Approval for Public Safety Millage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. \u2014 Muskegon Township officials are urging voters to approve a proposed 5.25-mill property tax increase next month to fund the township\u2019s police and fire departments. The new millage comes after the expiration of a long-standing 2.6802-mill levy this year, leaving the departments reliant on the township\u2019s general fund for operation. Without a new funding source, local leaders warn that services and staffing levels could be significantly impacted.<\/p>\n

The proposal was discussed during an informational meeting at Fire Station 1, where Township Supervisor Jennifer Hodges, along with Police Chief Patrick VanDommelen and Fire Chief Matt Ambrose, presented the need for the additional millage. The township\u2019s public safety departments, both of which have seen strains in resources and personnel, are hoping the millage will provide the necessary funding to maintain operations and meet growing demands.<\/p>\n

Fire Department Struggles with Staffing Shortages<\/p>\n

Fire Chief Matt Ambrose outlined the challenges faced by his department, particularly when responding to structure fires. Ambrose explained that, while national standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) call for 15 to 16 firefighters on a working fire, Muskegon Township crews typically operate with only six or seven. He noted that the department is able to manage with fewer personnel, but it places a significant strain on the firefighters, who are often forced to take on additional tasks such as changing air bottles and rotating in and out of the fire scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can get three more personnel, that\u2019s guaranteed staffing for us that gives the best service possible to the people that live in this community,\u201d Ambrose said, emphasizing the need for more personnel to ensure safer and more effective fire response.<\/p>\n

Police Department Faces Overburdened Officers<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Police Chief Patrick VanDommelen discussed the strain placed on the police department\u2019s patrol officers, who often juggle multiple responsibilities due to a lack of staffing. VanDommelen explained that without dedicated detectives, patrol officers are tasked with investigating crimes in addition to their regular duties. He noted that additional detectives would enable the department to process evidence more efficiently, leading to higher solvability rates and better overall outcomes in criminal investigations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout detectives, patrol officers are the ones who have to investigate these crimes,\u201d VanDommelen explained. \u201cIf we were able to have two detectives, those detectives would be able to have the time and resources to sift through all the evidence and ultimately have better solvability rates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Millage Funds Would Provide Critical Support<\/p>\n

The proposed 5.25-mill tax increase is expected to raise approximately $2.7 million in its first year, which would cover a portion of the $4.7 million needed for public safety in 2025. The remaining funding would be drawn from the township\u2019s general fund. The millage, if passed, would provide a critical infusion of resources for both departments, allowing for staffing improvements, the purchase of necessary equipment, and enhanced public safety services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know this is a heavy burden on them, especially right now, but we\u2019re trying to provide them with the service that they deserve, and that\u2019s going to keep us the safest,\u201d Supervisor Jennifer Hodges said. \u201cWe are humbly asking that they consider this for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposal will be on the ballot for voters on May 6, and township leaders are hopeful that residents will recognize the importance of supporting their local police and fire services. With the general fund no longer sufficient to cover the costs of public safety, the millage presents a pivotal opportunity for the community to ensure the continued effectiveness of these essential services.<\/p>\n

As the vote approaches, Muskegon Township residents will need to decide whether to approve the new millage, which officials argue is necessary to maintain the safety and well-being of the community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. \u2014 Muskegon Township officials are urging voters to approve a proposed 5.25-mill property tax increase next month to fund the township\u2019s police and fire departments. The new millage comes after the expiration of a long-standing 2.6802-mill levy this year, leaving the departments reliant on the township\u2019s general fund for operation. Without a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2882","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2882"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2889,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2882\/revisions\/2889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandrapidspost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}