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Kalamazoo City Transit Authority Proposal
Kalamazoo City Referendum on Ordinance No. 1856
Kalamazoo Transit Authority Proposal
Shall the City of Kalamazoo Transit Authority, County of Kalamazoo, Michigan levy as a new millage, an amount not to exceed Sixty Cents ($.60) per thousand dollars ($1,000) (0.6 mils) of the Taxable Value of all taxable property in the City of Kalamazoo for a period of three years, for 2010, 2011 and 2012, to provide for public transportation services, including limited evening services? If approved and levied in its entirety in 2010, this millage would raise approximately $998,442 for the Transit Authority.
Yes No
Description
This millage request is part 2 of a three-part plan to provide public transportation in the county.
- Part 1: Voters county-wide approved a 0.4 mil levy in May 2009 to support all demand-response services throughout the county, as well as regular fixed-route bus service traveling outside the City limits.
- Part 2: This part of the plan provides public transit services inside the City limits.
- Part 3: A proposed fare increase would require users of the public transit system to pay more and share in the increasing costs of public transportation in Kalamazoo.
If this proposal is approved, the owner of a $100,000 home in the City of Kalamazoo would pay $.58 a week to maintain bus service in the City. The 0.6 mil request, together with the 0.4 mil county-wide levy, means City of Kalamazoo residents would be paying 1.0 mil for public transit services. This is less than the 1.38 mils they paid in 2008. This millage and the county-wide millage will keep services at the current level.
Kalamazoo Metro Transit received $3.1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding as part of the federal government’s stimulus program. This money can only be used for capital purchases such as equipment. It cannot be used to pay for service on the street or to replace needed local funding.
The source of this information is the City of Kalamazoo website.
These statements are not intended to indicate either support or opposition to the proposal by the League of Women Voters. We encourage voters to consider the rationale and other information, as needed, when they vote.
A Referendum on Ordinance No. 1856
Question: Shall Ordinance No. 1856, adopted by the City Commission June 29, 2009, which amended Chapter 18 of the City Code of Ordinances to generally prohibit discriminatory practices on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, physical or mental disability, family status, sexual orientation or gender identity in the provision of housing, public accommodations, and employment, take effect?
Yes No
Description
This proposed ordinance amends existing law to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, just as it currently protects people based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, physical or mental disability and family status.
- It bans discrimination in housing and employment, as well as public accommodation practices such as access to lodging and restaurants.
- A company wanting to do business with the city must certify that it is in compliance with the provisions of this ordinance before it could get a city contract.
- The ordinance contains specific exemptions for religious organizations and others, such as government institutions.
- Anyone claiming a violation of the ordinance can file a complaint with the city within 180 days of the incident. The complaint will be investigated within 30 days or referred to the appropriate state or federal agency for review.
- If a violation occurs, the City Manager may attempt to resolve the matter or refer it to the City Attorney for prosecution.
To read the full text of the ordinance, see—www.kalamazoocity.org/docs/1856.pdf
These statements are not intended to indicate either support or opposition to the proposal by the League of Women Voters. We encourage voters to consider the rationale and other information, as needed, when they vote.