Fire Millage on the Ballot

On August 4, Auburn Hills residents will be asked to consider a 1.5 mill increase on their tax bill to support Fire and Emergency Medical Services in our community. Currently, the city collects revenue on a 2.5 mill tax levy, costing a homeowner with a taxable value of $100,000 about $250 per year. The additional 1.5 mills will increase the millage rate of 2.5 mills to 4.0 mills, and in the example provided, would cost a taxpayer an additional $150 annually, for a total of $400 annually for Fire and Emergency Medical Services. When the City Charter was adopted and the city was incorporated on December 31, 1983, little did the authors of the Charter know that rural Auburn Hills would become an international business address with more than 26,000 residents (currently and growing). With more people living here and coming to work here every day, the demand on the fire department has increased significantly. For example, in 2010 the fire department responded to 2,816 calls. By 2020, that increased to 3,585 calls, and just five years later in 2025, calls for service increased to 4,628, a nearly 30% increase in call volume in just the last five years alone. Importantly, 75% of these calls are for emergency medical services. That means that 3 out of 4 calls are for medical responses.

Because of the charter limit of 2.5 mills, this year (2026) is the first year in which the revenue generated by the current millage rate did not cover the cost of fire department operations. To remedy this deficit, the city is seeking the support of voters to increase the millage rate to 4.0 mills which will generate an additional $3.3 million annually for the fire department. Because the city’s tax base is approximately 75% non-residential, residents will contribute approximately $825,000 of that $3.3 million with the remaining approximately $2,475,000 contributed by the business community. The chart below shows the current and projected annual deficit. For obvious reasons, this trend cannot continue.

On August 4, two questions will appear on the local ballot. One will ask voters to approve a charter amendment that makes the maximum allowable tax levy for fire and emergency medical services to be up to 4.0 mills, an increase from the current maximum levy of 2.5 mills in the Charter. The other question will ask voters to allow the city to levy up to the 4.0 mills. Both must be approved to provide the funding. If approved, the expected outcomes include: improved medical response times, the hiring of three (3) additional paramedics, the addition of another regularly staffed ambulance to meet demands, invest in equipment purchases and upgrades, reduce the reliance on assistance from neighboring communities to respond to some of our calls for service when we are not available, and eliminate the budget deficit.

Simply stated, the city does not relish the idea of asking for a tax increase. But under the circumstances and considering the importance of continuing to provide for adequate fire and medical response/life support services, the request must be made. We can promise you that these dollars will be carefully and responsibly spent on fire and emergency medical/life support services and the personnel and equipment that delivers these services.

For more information about the upcoming fire millage election on August 4, visit auburnhills.org/fire-millage or attend one of two town hall meetings being hosted on Wednesday, June 10 or Wednesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Public Safety Building on the main municipal campus, 1899 North Squirrel Road.

Thomas A. Tanghe, City Manager