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Rochester Hills council approves placing a proposed fire charter millage amendment on November ballot
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Summary
Following fire department testimony on rising call volumes and unit shortages, the council unanimously approved sending a charter amendment to voters that would raise the maximum authorized fire millage from 3.0 to 3.5 mills (city intends to set levy at 3.2 if approved) to fund 12 additional firefighter‑paramedics and capital needs.
Rochester Hills city leaders on April 13 approved placing a charter amendment on the November ballot that would increase the ceiling for fire funding from 3.0 mills to 3.5 mills, a step staff said is needed to hire 12 firefighter‑paramedics and shore up equipment replacement funding.
Fire officials told the council their staffing and workload analysis showed a 39% increase in calls over the past 10 years and 224 incidents in 2024 when no units were available to respond. "Our resources are being depleted at an unsustainable rate," the fire chief said, recommending hiring 12 firefighter‑paramedics to staff an additional ambulance and improve reliability.
CFO Snyder presented cost estimates: a fully loaded firefighter‑paramedic position (salary, overtime, benefits) is approximately $163,400; twelve positions equate to just over $2 million. City staff proposed a 0.5‑mill increase; the city indicated it may set the levy at 3.2 mills if voters approve the change. The proposal also earmarks roughly a tenth of a mill for the fire capital fund to stabilize long‑term vehicle and apparatus replacement schedules.
Derek Gardner, president of the Rochester Hills Professional Firefighters union Local 3472, spoke in support of the proposal, urging voters to back what he said would sustain response capacity and address rising EMS demand at senior living facilities. "We hope residents recognize that when we show up on scene we are ready to help them in any way that we can," Gardner said.
Council members across the political spectrum voiced support, citing rising call volumes, the city's aging population and the costs of ambulance replacements. The council unanimously approved the resolution to submit the charter amendment for the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
If voters approve the amendment, the city stated its intent to levy 3.2 mills (below the newly authorized maximum) to generate an estimated $5,039,970 in additional revenue in the first year if levied in full. Officials said the funds are dedicated to fire operations or capital and cannot be used for other purposes by law.
Council directed staff to continue public education about the ballot question and to coordinate timelines with the clerk and attorney general review process required for charter amendments.
