Aug 4 Ballot: Royal Oak Charter Amendments
Royal Oak, MI – Voters in Royal Oak have two Charter Amendments for millages. Here is the ballot language:
Royal Oak Charter Amendment for Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Millage
Shall the City Charter of the City of Royal Oak be amended for the purpose of providing funds for police, fire and emergency medical services by the levy and collection of Four and Six Tenths (4.60) mills per year for ten (10) years, beginning in 2027? If approved, it is estimated that 4.60 mills would raise approximately $18,081,800 when first levied in 2027. Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?
Charter Amendment for Renewal of Refuse Collection, Disposal and Curbside Recycling Program Millage
Shall the City Charter of the City of Royal Oak be amended to renew the levy of One (1.00) mill per year for five (5) years for the purpose of providing funds for refuse collection, disposal and for a curbside recycling program, beginning in 2027? If approved, it is estimated that 1.00 mill would raise approximately $3,930,800 when first levied in 2027
The city has a page on their website answering questions, stating:
Which millages are being proposed for the August 2026 Primary Election?
There will be two Charter proposals on the August 4, 2026 Primary Election ballot: a public safety millage to support Police, Fire, and emergency medical services. and a renewal of the city’s sanitation millage.
Are these millage requests new, or are they renewals?
The proposed sanitation millage is a straight renewal. If approved, it would authorize the City to levy up to 1.00 mills for a five-year term—the same rate and length of time as was previously approved. The millage has been in place, approved by voters in five-year increments, since 1991.
The proposed public safety millage is a renewal of the 3.975 mills previously approved by voters, plus a modest increase of 0.625 mills. If approved, it would authorize the City to levy up to 4.6 mills for a ten-year term. This millage, at the rate of 3.975 mills, has been in place, approved by voters in five-year increments, since 2012.
What would the sanitation millage cover?
The sanitation millage will continue to provide a dedicated and reliable funding source for essential solid waste and recycling services.
Royal Oak residents enjoy a number of services that are subsidized by the sanitation millage, including garbage and recycling bins and curbside pickup, and seasonal yard waste and fall leaf pickup. The millage also helps fund important sustainability initiatives, including composting programs, recycling education, and zero-waste efforts; these will be essential as the City works to implement Oakland County’s new Materials Management Plan waste-reduction requirements.
What would the Public Safety millage cover?
The public safety millage will continue to support Royal Oak’s essential Police, Fire, and emergency services. The Police and Fire Departments provide much more than basic services: they act as benchmarks for excellence throughout the region, with some of the best coverage, fastest response times, and most skilled personnel. Millage funding allows the City to deliver these best-in-class services while also meeting the demands of rising costs in staffing, technology, healthcare, facilities, vehicles, and more.
The funding also helps our public safety teams offer unique, modern programming and community education, such as the Co-Responder mental health response team; CPR and lifesaving techniques trainings; citizens and youth police academies; fire and crime investigations units; safety coverage for incredibly large-scale public events, like Arts Beats & Eats and the Woodward Dream Cruise; and more. and more.
The longer millage term (ten years versus five) allows us to do longer-range forecasting, planning, and purchasing, ultimately saving money and leading to more strategic decision-making.
Why is the City asking for a longer Public Safety Millage?
The longer millage term (10 years versus 5) allows us to do longer-range forecasting, planning, and purchasing, ultimately saving money and leading to more strategic decision-making.
Several communities also have proposals on the ballot. For the full list and more election information visit the Oakland County Clerk’s website.
Check out the Oakland County Election Page for info on other proposals.
