Detroit City Council votes to not put public safety millage on November ballot

DETROIT (WXYZ) - In a vote of 7-2, Detroit City Council members decide to not put a property tax millage on the ballot in November.

The 5-year tax hike would have raised $56 million a year to hire hundreds of additional police, fire crews and EMS workers.

It had been estimated that someone owning a home valued at $50,000 would pay about $200 more a year under this plan.

Detroit Police Ralph Godbee joined some police commissioners to urge council to put the measure on the November ballot for voters to decide. But many council members voiced concerns over the possible risk that the millage would cost the city the same amount of state revenue sharing dollars.

"It would be a wash," said Councilman Kenneth Cockrel Jr.

In a city already battling unemployment and taxes that are already high, Council members James Tate and JoAnn Watson urged developing ways to combat crime through jobs and education.

Council President Charles Pugh and Councilman Andre Spivey were the only two members to vote in favor of putting the measure before the voters.

"I think it was unfair to vote this down," said Pugh. "We should have allowed voters to decide and not kill the issue before they even got the chance."