News Photo by Crystal Nelson Rogers City residents on Friday attend a town hall meeting to learn more about how the community could change with help from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Main Street program.

ROGERS CITY– Rogers City residents on Friday indicated they would support a new tax to pay for a new office dedicated to downtown economic development.

Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan said the so-called Main Street Office would cost about $90,000, with about $50,000 dedicated to a main street manager’s salary. The Rogers City Downtown Development Authority in January discussed the idea of levying a special assessment to fund the new office.

McLennan said the special assessment would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $30 each year — that would be about a 0.6-mill tax — for the next five years. He said the maximum amount that can be collected through the tax is $50,000.

McLennan spoke to about 80 people on Friday at a town hall meeting meant to share information about how the Rogers City DDA would move forward with the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Main Street Program.

McLennan said the DDA plans to hire a main street manager by July and submit an application to the MEDC by December, but a grassroots movement will be needed from community members for the application to be successful.

“I’m asking each and every one of you tonight to be an advocate for this plan, to advocate, to move it forward, to make it happen,” McLennan said. “I promise you we can do this together, but it’s a grassroots movement.”

The special assessment does not require voter approval and only needs to be approved by the Rogers City City Council.

McLennan said the DDA would contribute $20,000 per year toward the office over the next five years and the remainder would come from other sources. He said the city has already received a pledge of $10,000 per year from an anonymous donor and a pledge of $1,000 per year from another individual over the course of the next five years.

Several of those in attendance on Friday said they would also support the city with donations and with volunteer time. No one in attendance spoke against the proposed millage.

McLennan also asked residents to share their feelings about the Main Street Program and the assessment at upcoming City Council meetings or to write letters to the editor to local newspapers.

McLennan said he expects the special assessment to come before the City Council in March.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.