Residents, speakers press council on $150 million millage, campaign timing and marketing costs

Livonia residents urged the City Council Tuesday to reject an August millage proposal that would borrow $150 million to renovate five fire stations, build a new library, a police station and a city hall, saying the ballot timing and campaign spending were problematic. The concerns came during the council—s public-comment period ahead of the Aug. 5 primary election, when speakers said low turnout and behind-the-scenes promotion could skew the result. The Detroit News editorial board advised voters to oppose what it called "sneaky tax hike proposals" placed in low-turnout elections, a point read into the record by resident Deb Christiansen. "Ballot proposals that ask for tax hikes should be presented to voters in elections with the highest anticipated…