• Why should City residents pay for someone else’s park? Prop 1 calls for a soccer field costing up to $2.1M but only 27% of soccer participants are from the City of Plymouth.
  • Why did the City break away from the joint recreation plan with Plymouth Township? 8 out of 10 residents from both communities want a single regional offering.
  • If we can’t even maintain the parks we currently have, how can we possibly afford maintenance after adding a soccer field? Most people think the City will seek to renew the millage again and again after it expires.
  • Why won’t the City consider a Parks Advisory Board to help prioritize projects? At a recent City Commission meeting, nine citizens asked the Commissioners to consider a Parks Advisory Board but they declined to even put the topic on their agenda for consideration.
  • Were other millage options ever publicly discussed? No. The millage rate, millage duration, etc. occurred behind closed doors without public discussion.
  • Has the City provided a clear roadmap for the millage funds? No. When asked during a September information session, even the specifics for year one could not be provided.

Plymouth’s abundance of parks and high-quality recreation programs make us a special community, and we all want to support them. Many of us are not opposed to a millage; however, just like our personal finances, we want to ensure it done fairly and efficiently. We can’t always have everything we want, so we need to prioritize what matters most. What are the essential items we must address? Are there opportunities to save money? This is an eight-year proposal—what is the timing, and how will the budget be managed?

Prop 1 is primarily based on deferred maintenance in our parks and facilities, along with the loss of access to soccer fields. Cost estimates were assigned to each need and the City Administration was tasked with putting together a proposal for a Recreation Millage of 1.2 mills over eight years, beginning in July 2025. This proposal was approved by the City Commission at their June 3, 2024, meeting.

How Can We Do Better?

  • Fully Engage the Plymouth Community (City and Township)
    Only 236 citizens completed the 2021 survey, and 264 participated in the 2023 survey. Focus groups in April had just 42 participants.
  • Create Volunteer Opportunities
    Volunteers can assist in maintaining parks and supporting recreation programs.
  • Strengthen Partnerships with other Municipalities
    Collaborating with Plymouth Township or other neighbors can create more equitable partnerships.
  • Develop a Formal Sponsorship Program
    The City currently lacks a formal sponsorship program that could generate additional funds.
  • Establish a Regular Assessment Process
    We need a system to regularly evaluate parks and facilities, gather community input, prioritize projects, and create a sustainable maintenance plan.
  • Create a Long-Term Financial Plan
    Develop a dedicated budget for parks and recreation, including maintenance costs, program funding, and improvements, with annual reviews to ensure sustainability and adaptability.
  • Form a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
    An advisory board could help support the recreation department in achieving these goals.

Find more facts about the millage at https://48170.info/