Higher millage needed to keep up, Kentwood police chief says [Video]

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — Voters in Kentwood will decide on a public safety millage increase in the May 7 election.

The Kentwood police and fire departments say the funding is needed to keep up with population growth.

Kentwood voters to consider millage increase for police, fire

Voters will decide on a 1.95 mills increase for public safety. That means a home with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay an additional $195 a year.

Police Chief Bryan Litwin says the increase is needed to keep up with the demand for service.

The city’s population grew 11.5% from 2010 to 2020, leaders say.

“Since our first police and fire millage was passed in 1999, and at that point we raised our officer level to shortly thereafter 71 officers. And that number hasn’t increased in the last 25 years,” Litwin said.

A proposal to increase Kentwood’s public safety funding through a millage increase has left resident Scott Morton with questions.

“With …