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PAGE 6 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN April 28, 2022

INKSTER - WAYNE
INKSTER - WAYNE

Council considering new 8 mill property tax levy

Wayne residents could see an (MERS) sued the city for the outstanding MERS liability.
extra $200 to $300 on their tax arrearage in contributions. City ” Officials attempted to per-
bills next year if language for a officials opted not to defend the The 8 mills proposed for five suade voters to approve an Act
new levy is authorized by mem- MERS court action in what was years would fund the police 345 millage request in 2013 and
bers of the city council and then characterized by critics as a 2015, but the proposal failed at
approved by voters in November. "friendly lawsuit" forcing the and fire department retirement plans. the ballot box. According to city
The 8 mills proposed for five financial liability onto taxpayers. officials, there is not sufficient
years would fund the police and Earlier this month, members tax revenue collected in the city
fire department retirement of the city council directed the fire retirement plans. imbalance. to fund the pension obligations. If
plans. Wayne has been in a city attorney to prepare language According to officials, Wayne Officials said that the pro- approved by voters, the collected
deficit position for contributions for the November ballot request- has 170 retirees collecting pen- posed millage, if approved by vot- 8 mills would also improve the
to the retirement plan for several ing voters to approve up to 8 sion benefits with only 80 ers, would prevent another large balance in the city general fund,
years and was ordered by the mills to fund the retirement obli- employees contributing to the tax levy by order of the court if currently being used to pay the
court to levy 13.13999 mills on the gations. The millage would fall fund. Several years ago, the city MERS sues again. With voters pension obligations.
city winter tax collection. The under provisions of state Act 345 offered early retirement to approval of the new proposal, Councilwoman Kelly Skiff cast
court order came after the which gives communities the employees in an effort to cut members of the council could the only no vote April 6 for the
Municipal Employees authority to create new tax levies labor costs in the city which may decide annually whether to levy authorization of the ballot lan-
Retirement System of Michigan specifically to fund police and have had an impact on the fund the full 8 mills depending on the guage.
Police seeking slaying suspect

Troopers with the Michigan State female, who was discovered around 6:30
Police are currently investigating the p.m. in a residence at Hamlin Place
homicide of a young woman after her Estates off Hamlin Drive in Inkster on
body was found in an Inkster apartment April 20.
with apparent gunshot wounds. The name of the victim was not
State police authorities said detec- released and police did not provide any
tives are piecing together what hap- further information regarding the situa-
pened to the victim, a 23-year-old tion.
Candidates for city council

seats file for 2-year terms

Wayne voters will be asked to choose In Ward 4, Deborah Wass is unopposed
STEP independence, pride in their work, and city council members from three wards in for the council term; in Ward 5, Eric
Cleerman, a member of the Wayne
the city during the November election.
fostering each person's own unique and
individual style. Each of the terms is for two years end- Commission on Aging, and Rabih
FROM PAGE 1 Studio assistants might help an artist ing in 2024 when all seven city elected Darwiche have filed nominating petitions
find a book for reference, or offer words of positions will be on the ballot. Voters seeking the term. In Ward 6, Mathew
ently; we're not shadowing them,” encouragement, but artists are free to cre- opted to terminate the current ward sys- Mulholland and incumbent Philip Wagner
Marcellini said. ate whatever they want. tem during the last election, prompting will be on the ballot.
“They're making the decisions them- The goal is that one day they can begin the two-year ward terms on the ballot this The Wayne City Council election is non-
selves. Whatever they create is intentional. to exhibit and sell their artworks, too. year. partisan.
I think this place will become part of the “This concept has produced artists
city's arts community - not just the disabili- exhibited throughout the world,”
ty community.” Marcellini said. To subscribe to The Eagle
The progressive art studio approach STEP-affiliated thrift stores and dona-
eschews a top-down model featuring a tion centers in Dearborn Heights, visit www.associatednewspapers.net.
teacher and a class. The open studio con- Southgate, and Wayne help the organiza-
cept allows for the artists to work on their tion raise money and provide employment
own projects as they see fit, promoting to their clients at the same time.