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Romeo trustees weigh special assessment to cover sharp fire-contract increases as dispatch delays raise alarms
Summary
Trustees reviewed scenarios under PA 33 to raise revenue after a multi-year jump in the village's Bruce Township fire contract, discussing taxable-value mills, flat-per-parcel alternatives and growing concerns about longer emergency response times after Bruce's dispatch changes.
Trustees of the Village of Romeo spent the bulk of the meeting debating whether to pursue a public-safety special assessment to address a multi-year surge in the cost of fire services provided under contract by Bruce Township.
Administration presented staff-calculated scenarios under Public Act 33 showing two taxable-value options: a millage around 1.2450 to recoup the recent contract increase (staff estimated this would cost the average residential taxpayer roughly $126 annually) and a larger 3.7250 millage that would cover the entire contract (estimated at about $377 annually). Staff also presented alternative flat-per-parcel approaches (roughly $183 or $548 annually) as examples municipalities use, with a recommendation to seek a municipal-attorney opinion before finalizing any method.
The board heard background numbers from staff that, according to the materials presented, showed the village's Bruce Township contract rose from about $550,000 in 2024 to roughly $780,000 after negotiation in 2025 and was estimated by staff at about $826,800 for 2026 and roughly $876,000 for 2027. Trustees repeatedly flagged the cumulative pressure those increases place on the village general fund and on planned capital work.
Trustees debated fairness and mechanics: supporters of a taxable-value approach said it ties cost to property wealth and ability to pay, while backers of a flat per-parcel charge argued for simplicity. Village Attorney Mr. Clark told the board that the village has an existing ordinance authorizing special assessments and advised reviewing that ordinance and obtaining a written legal opinion before proceeding.
Public-safety operational concerns framed part of the discussion. The chief reported that a recent shift in Bruce Township's dispatch model has lengthened call-processing time and said early data show Romeo runs have experienced about a 36% increase in response-time duration on some calls. Trustees and staff discussed whether that operational change affects contractual expectations and home-insurance implications tied to response times. No formal action was taken; the board directed staff to prepare draft language based on the taxable-value scenario and to return with more detail and a legal opinion at the next meeting.
What happens next: Trustees asked administration to draft notice language and to provide a written municipal-attorney opinion and more detailed calculations for the board's August meeting so the board can determine timing and whether to schedule a public hearing required under PA 33.
