City of Troy
From Michigan Transparency Wiki
The City of Troy has a population of 80,959 as of the 2000 census, and is the 12th largest city in Michigan by population. Troy is located on the eastern edge of Oakland County bordering Macomb County and the City of Sterling Heights to the east, the cities Clawson, Madison Heights and Royal Oak to the south, the City of Rochester Hills to the north, and the City of Birmingham and Bloomfield Township to the west.
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[edit] Local Tax Millage Issue on Feb. 23, 2010 Ballot
The City of Troy proposed and placed on its ballot in a special election in February 2010 a 1.9 mill rate increase, arguing it was necessary to preserve police, fire, public service, parks & recreation and library services and that the library and parks would close without it. The City website promoted the millage increase here with this informational flyer for the election. Opponents labeled the increase a 29% increase and argued the City has failed to show that it couldn't make legitimate reductions in other areas that would be less painful. Proponents argued that the increase was necessary.
The millage was denied by voters on Feb. 23rd by a greater than 60-40% margin.
[edit] For the Proposal
- Troy Leadership Coalition website.
- Troy Historical Society, a 501(c)3 that claims some of its services will be impacted website.
[edit] Against the Propsal
- Troy Citizens United.
- Former Troy City Councilman Dave Lambert website
[edit] Campaign Finance Complaint and Ruling
The City website contains a digital version of an informational flier printed and mailed by the City informational flyer for the election which some citizens challenged as one-sided and an inappropriate use of taxpayer resources to influence an election. A campaign finance complaint was filed with the Secretary of State in December 2009. The Secretary of State's (SOS) Bureau of Elections ruled that although the brochure didn't technically violate the nuances of campaign finance law that it did leave the reader with an impression of an endorsement. Such editorial statements by the Bureau of Elections arbitrators are rare, and some would suggest should be a cautionary sign to the City in future publications.
The Bureau's official response was " ... a sensible reader may be left with the distinct impression that the brochure appeals to area residents to vote "yes" on the millage ... ". The letter went on to explain that it could not rule the city violated campaign finance law because the law against taxpayer-funded lobbying is so limited that the brochure must actually say "VOTE YES" or some other express form of advocacy to violate campaign finance law. City Council members Shilling, Slater, McGinnis and Kerwin voted yes on the resolution to create the brochure.
(Ed Note: The proponents arguments in favor of the city's decision to mail the brochure and way it was written would be welcome here, as an addition (not also deletion)).
[edit] City of Troy Information
[edit] Political Representatives for Troy
- State Representative Marty Knollenberg represents all of Troy and all of the City of Clawson in the House 41st District.
- State Senator John Pappageorge represents all of Troy and a larger region in the Senate 19th District.
- US Congressman Gary Peters represents all of Troy and a larger region in the US Congressional 9th District of Michigan.
- US Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin represent all of Michigan.
- Troy is divided by Oakland County Commission boundaries and represented by 4 Commissioners.
- Robert Gosselin (R-Troy)
- Timothy Burns (D-Clawson)
- David Potts (R-Bloomfield)
- Gary McIllivray (D-Madison Heights)
[edit] Schools Serving Troy
Although there are 6 districts that serve small segments of Troy, 99% of all students are part of the Troy Public Schools system.
