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Warren officials and firefighters urge renewal of police and fire millage ahead of Nov. 4 vote
Summary
Council members and local union leaders urged voters to renew a 4.6176-mill police and fire millage on Nov. 4, saying the revenue supports staffing and emergency response; the city estimates first-year revenue at $21,332,963 if renewed.
City leaders and union representatives used the Sept. 23 Warren City Council meeting to urge residents to support a Nov. 4 ballot question to renew the city's police and fire millage.
Councilwoman Moore read the ballot language into the record: the proposal would amend Section 9.1 of the Warren City Charter to continue the annual levy of up to 4.6176 mills on taxable property value for five years, beginning with the July 2026 levy and continuing through the 2030 levy. The city's estimate for first-year revenue was read as $21,332,963.
Joe Shearer, identified in council remarks as president of Warren Professional Firefighters Local 1383, wrote an editorial the mayor read aloud and was quoted at the meeting: "When someone's having a heart attack or when a family's home is on fire, seconds matter," Shearer said in the excerpt read to council. He and other speakers said renewal would not raise the millage but would continue existing funding that supports staffing, equipment, training and emergency response.
Councilman Dwyer, drawing on his nearly 40 years in law enforcement, told residents a no vote could lead to staff cuts and longer response times. "Remember, this is only a renewal. Voting no would lead to at least 20 police officers being cut as well as 20 firefighters," he said. "Response times will be longer."
Other council members described the millage as an "insurance policy" for public safety and urged residents to consider the consequences of reduced staffing. The council did not take a vote on the ballot measure at the meeting; the item was an informational announcement and public outreach ahead of the Nov. 4 election.
