R-O Studies Citywide Sidewalk Funding

City commissioners in Royal Oak are set to discuss a ballot proposal at tonight’s meeting that would ask voters to approve a millage to pay for annual sidewalk repairs instead of requiring individual homeowners to cover the cost.
City Manager Don Johnson notes that Royal Oak and most other communities in Michigan currently assess individual property owners for sidewalk repairs as needed.
He says property owners are not happy when they receive such a bill and this new proposal is one of the city commission’s objectives to offer Royal Oak residents an alternative means of paying for sidewalk repairs.
Clawson voters passed a similar sidewalk millage in 2007 and approved it again last year.
Ann Arbor also has a similar millage.
Johnson is recommending Royal Oak commissioners put the question to voters to determine their support or opposition.