 
Miketoronto
Member
Username: Miketoronto
Post Number: 725
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2007 - 9:39 pm: |    |
I was wondering if you guys could help me with a questoin I have for a project.
Do any of you know if Metro Detroit communities always had the option to opt out of SMART. Or is it a recent bylaw within the last 10-15 years or so?
When SMART was stared back in the 1960's, did communities vote then on if they wanted service, or was it just all provided?
Any info you got on this bylaw would be great.
I searched the bills that created SMART, but I see nothing in there saying communities can opt out. |
Trainman
Member
Username: Trainman
Post Number: 548
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 6:38 am: | |
Prior to 1995, our federal and state governments supported SMART. It was the decision of the people to replace the state fuel tax with property. The property tax was supposed to balance the budget only but since 1995 our state has slashed about $32 Million per year from the SMART budget. You don't notice this because over $50 Million per year was raised from property taxes. The $2 Million per yer cut from Livonia is also quite large compared to our size in relationship to the rest of metro Detroit.
(Message edited by Trainman on November 02, 2007) |
Trainman
Member
Username: Trainman
Post Number: 549
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 6:41 am: | |
See the Citizens Council Research of Michigan on SMART. This explains the history of funding as proof of my findings along with the FTA database and the brookings institute and other sources. |