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ALPENA -- Voters in Alpena Township on Tuesday voted down a tax increase request for a second time that would have helped bolster fire operations in the township.
The 3-mill tax would have been used to adequately staff and equip the fire department, and help pay for future projects like building a new southside station.
Now, the board of trustees, the fire chief, and the employees have to come together to plan a path forward.
Despite several meetings to discuss the department's future, there is no plan and what direction the trustees will take is unknown.
Township Fire Chief Mark Hansen said Wednesday that he respects the will of the people, but admitted the atmosphere at the two stations is a bit gloomy.
Despite that, Hansen said his team is committed to continuing to provide the professional service it has for decades.
"Of course when something like this happens it affects morale and our ability to see advancement for the community," Hansen said. "We had many plans to increase our services and overall care for our residents if the millage passed. At this point in time it is up to the trustees to decide our path."
Hansen said the department -- which was undergoing a staffing shortage -- could continue operations as is, but the general fund would have to allocate money to the department to help pay the bills.
The general fund cash would be on top of a 1.5 mill tax residents pay now for fire operations. Hansen said it is also possible the department undergoes changes, but he didn't specify what those changes would look like.
"It could look different, but that is yet to be determined," he said.
The township asked for the tax increase during the August primary election, but the request was defeated 1,446 to 1,191. Only a short time later, the board of trustees voted to place the proposal back on the ballot for the general election and on Tuesday it was denied once again, 2,537 to 2,085 -- roughly the same margin that the tax failed in August.
Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said the voters have spoken and now it is up to the board to come to an agreement on a path forward.
In the past, Skibbe said all options to address the fire department issue would be on the table, if the millage failed.
Now, time is of the essence to devise a plan as the township prepares to craft its new fiscal budget and tough decisions will need to be made.
"The board will have to finally have an open and realistic dialogue moving forward now, knowing the results of two elections," Skibbe said Tuesday.
Last year, the township negotiated a contract with the Alpena Fire Department that would have had the city handle emergency response calls for the township. The contract, however, was defeated in a 4-to-3 vote of the township board, bringing fire services back in house.
Some board members believe the city should be approached again to see if there is still interest in a new deal, while others think the formation of a fire authority is the best solution.
It is unknown at this time if there are talks going on behind the scenes with other municipalities about a possible partnership.
Township property owners already pay 1.5 mills -- about $75 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house -- for firefighting operations and will pay that tax through 2027.
Another 0.65-mill tax for firefighting equipment -- costing the owner of a $100,000 house about $32.50 per year -- ends at the end of the year.
If the new tax increase was approved, tax payers would have paid an additional $150 for a $100,000 house. It would have raised about $1.1 million a year for the township.
Hansen said staff and supporters of the millage worked hard to connect with voters and explain what the tax money would be used for.
He said the economy and inflation may have dampened voters' appetite for paying more in taxes.
"I believe it most definitely was a factor," he said. "It has impacted everyone's pocketbook."
Despite the disappointment, Hansen thanked those who did support the millage proposal and promised the department would continue to respond and help those in need.
"We will continue to be as professional as we have always been," Hansen said.