Transportation Millage

A longtime SMART millage critic and former Macomb Township treasurer, he now supports the proposal because 12.5% of each community's revenue would return locally, after recounting a resident whose husband couldn't reach dialysis because shuttle funding was inadequate.

Richmond Lenox EMS operates SMART community partnership rides for 14 communities — about 36,000 rides a year — but turns away roughly 4,000 residents annually for lack of funding; the 12.5% return would reduce that.

Sterling Heights' parks director reported the city provides about 16,000 paratransit rides annually and also turns people away; he urged putting the millage on the ballot, warning communities would otherwise struggle to fund hundreds of thousands of dollars in services.