Street Millage 

 ANN ARBOR CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT
TAX FOR STREET AND BRIDGE RESURFACING
AND RECONSTRUCTION

Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a tax up to 2 mills for street and bridge reconstruction for 2012 through 2016 to replace the previously authorized tax up to 2 mills for street reconstruction for 2007 through 2011, which will raise in the first year of levy the estimated revenue of $9,091,000?

           Yes                             No

Proposal Summary Proposal 1 is the Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage ("Street Millage").  This millage has been authorized by Ann Arbor voters approximately every 5 years since 1984.  The funds raised through this 2-mill levy are used to maintain the quality of Ann Arbor roads and bridges, and are used to leverage federal and state matching dollars for the same purpose. The 2011 levy amount for a home of average market value of ($214,000)  in the City of Ann Arbor for 2 mills is $214.00/year.

Ann Arbor’s street reconstruction millage expires this year. The city provided several opportunities for the public to review the current street millage program and determine the preferred format to bring before the public on the November 8. 2011 election ballot. To this end, a series of public meetings were conducted in June.  Summaries from these sessions and the online survey results are attached below.

Street Reconstruction Millage Background   For nearly 30 years the Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage—augmented  with matching funds from federal and state grants--has been the principal funding source for resurfacing and reconstructing Ann Arbor’s neighborhood and “major” streets and bridges. The City of Ann Arbor maintains approximately 200 miles of residential streets, 100 miles of major streets, and 13 bridges. Because of the frequent changes in our local temperature, roads in Southeast Michigan experience severe freeze and thaw cycles which greatly impact their life span. Many of our roads need a new asphalt surface after 15 to 20 years, and need complete reconstruction after 30 years.  From 2007-2011, the total millage proceeds are approximately $46 million. During the same time period, the City leveraged $27 million in federal aid.

Prior to the 1980s, Ann Arbor had no dedicated funds for street reconstruction. The overall condition of the roads was very poor. As a means to improve the quality of our road transportation system, citizens approved the first Street Reconstruction Millage in 1984. Following this, in 1988, 1991, 1996, 2001, and again in 2006, the voters of Ann Arbor approved the collection of 2 mills annually for five years each for the reconstruction of streets. On November 8, 2011, voters will be presented with the option to reauthorize the 2-mill Street and Bridge Resurfacing and Reconstruction Millage for five years (2012-2016).

The City of Ann Arbor maintains approximately 200 miles of residential streets, 100 miles of major streets, and 13 bridges. Because of the frequent changes in local temperatures, roads in southeast Michigan experience severe freeze-and-thaw cycles that greatly impact street life span. Many of our roads need new asphalt surfacing after 15 to 20 years, and require complete reconstruction after 30 years.