Revealing Franklin Villages Budget Mismanagement Issues

1. What the Village Tells us

1. The Truth

The typical homeowner in the Village of Franklin will pay $3,600 in taxes to pay off the bonds taken out to fund the streetscape.

Original bond approval was for up to 15 Million, at 3.3mil average cost. 14.5Million was borrowed so average millage is about 3.2mills.

2.7 Million was used for the streetscape and lighting, so 0.6mills average is what a resident pays for 15 years toward the streetscape.

2. What the Village Tells us

2. The Truth

Revenue is NOT the Issue

Tax revenue + state funding increasing substantially at 18.4% despite a barely declining millage rate due to headlee.

Reckless Spending is The Issue

Administration costs have increased 224% in just two years…but service is the worst it has ever been.

The Police budget is increasing out of control with zero oversight or expense control.

Bingham Farms portion of Police costs are not increasing at the same rate as Franklin Village, partially because the Special Assessment District(SAD) is basically flat.

Historically Bingham Farms paid about 50% including the special assessment district, SAD costs have remained FLAT, while police costs have risen at an average of 4.7% per year.

Illegal Appropriations and Overspending

Franklin Village has a long history of ignoring the law, and the village appropriation using “savings” to “balance the budget” is no exception. The village charter requires revenues be higher than expenses, anything else is illegal.

Appropriations must be adjusted so expenses are less than revenues, the current appropriations are illegal. All those that are willfully violating this need to be aware that there are consequences.