ASK VOTERS FIRST is an organization seeking a referendum vote on acquiring additional Ann Arbor city debt
Recently the Ann Arbor city administration and architects Quinn Evans unveiled a plan to build a new court and police building for an estimated cost of at least $47 Million. On April 7th, the Ann Arbor City Council voted to issue $31 Million in new bonds to pay for the construction of this building.
If issued, these new bonds will increase the City’s “Government
Activities” debt by 55%, to a total of approximately $87 Million.
Repayment of principal and interest will require $2,000,000 annually
from the City’s general funds for the next thirty years. Although
$700,000 each year will be saved on lease costs for the 15th District
Court and other offices, an equal amount of new expenses for
building
utilities, maintenance and security will offset these savings. This
means that the entire $2,000,000 will need to be paid each year with
some combination of higher taxes, higher fees, and reduced services
for our citizens.
ASK VOTERS FIRST is a group of citizens who believe this significant long term decision requires a referendum vote. ASK VOTERS FIRST is now engaged in collecting the required signatures to demand that Ann Arbor’s electorate decide this issue later this year. This vote would be placed on the ballot of one of the already scheduled elections, and will not result in any additional cost to the city.
ASK VOTERS FIRST urges all Ann Arbor registered voters to support its petition drive to allow taxpayers to decide if they wish to assume $31 Million in new City debt obligations at a time when the economic outlook is grim on every level; national, state and city. The people of Ann Arbor are ultimately responsible