Taxpayers in local communities may be required to fund the regional transportation system as state legislators consider eliminating the “opt out” provision in the funding mechanism for the service.
Currently, 17 communities, including Canton Township, Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Belleville, Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township and Livonia, don’t participate in or fund SMART, the county regional bus service, exercising the opt out provision. Members of the Michigan House of Representatives, however, voted 56-52 last week to advance a bill to the Senate that would end the ability for Wayne County communities to opt out of votes and participation in the regional public transit system.
House Bill 6088, sponsored by state Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, would require the communities that currently opt out from the SMART bus system to participate in a county-wide vote when the 1-mill question appears on the ballot for renewal in 2026.
The 17 communities are unlikely to overcome the general support from the rest of the county in an election, making it likely that those communities — some of which have been opted out for nearly 40 years — would be required to pay the tax to support the transit service.
Several area leaders are critical of the proposal.
Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak said Canton has opted out of SMART since the 1990s, saving residents millions in taxes.
While Graham-Hudak likes the idea of public transportation, she said the proposed system doesn’t guarantee enough benefits for her community.
“I definitely support public transportation being available to all residents in Canton,” she said. “But we need to make sure the millage revenue from Canton comes back here to meet our needs.”
Canton Township operates Nankin Transit, a $500,000-per-year door-to-door service for seniors and people with disabilities. She noted that the 2016 Regional Transit Authority millage, which failed in Canton. included just one bus stop, in the southwestern corner of the township, which Canton residents felt was inadequate. “We can’t just say, ‘Okay, we’re putting a millage on you, and sorry, you don’t really get to use anything,’” she said, noting the township needs flexible, community-focused solutions, such as expanding door-to-door services like Nankin Transit.
Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo echoed concerns about winning over voters in opt-out communities.
“Northville Township voters are smart,” he said. “There has to be something in it for them to support a millage. Otherwise, they’ll vote no.”
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki also has doubts about the proposed bill.
“According to the news, the new law says Canton’s tax dollars will go to an unelected, countywide ‘authority,’ which will decide where all public transportation dollars are spent. Where will they choose to spend Canton’s money? Canton? I doubt it. I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts,” Polehanki posted on social media.
“Shouldn’t the new law give some form of local control and say that Canton’s tax dollars will be spent on public transportation in Canton? If we’re going to pay for public transportation, shouldn’t we have a voice in determining how our tax dollars are spent?” Polehanki said.
The bill will now go to the state Senate for consideration.
