Max Bryan
The Detroit News
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. — Oakland County voters were in a mixed mood in Tuesday’s election, approving some millage requests but rejecting several others, especially in the county’s northern tier.
In Auburn Hills , voters gave the OK to an increased millage dedicated to fire and EMS services, while a unique millage for youth programming in Pontiac also was approved by a wide margin. It was approved as Pontiac is in the midst of building a new rec center geared toward younger residents.
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But in at least three northern Oakland County communities — Brandon Township , Independence Township and Orion Township — voters soundly rejected millages for police services. All three townships contract with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement.
In Independence Township , where voters rejected a 3.2-mill police protection millage 54% to 46%, according to unofficial results, Supervisor Chuck Phyle said he respects the decision of voters. But he said the township will now have to evaluate the “financial and operational impact” on future police funding and available budget options.
“I will be requesting a prompt, fact-based review so the Board and residents have a clear understanding of the consequences, the available choices and the timeline for decisions,” he said in a statement on Facebook early Wednesday morning.
But voters were OK with millage requests in some communities.
With 100% of precincts reporting, a 4-mill measure for fire and EMS in Auburn Hills was approved 55% to 45%, according to unofficial reports.
Pontiac’s 1.4-mill youth millage, meanwhile, was also approved by a wide margin with 80% voting in favor of it with 100% of precincts reporting.
Pontiac’s youth millage — one of two measures put before Pontiac voters on Tuesday; another was a renewal for a millage that supports senior services, which also passed by a wide margin — will generate roughly $2 million in its first year to fund youth recreation and enrichment in the city’s new rec center at 191 Glenwood Avenue , according to Mayor Mike McGuinness .
McGuinness said the city would have had to “dramatically” scale back parks and recreation programs had the millage failed.
“These results are a strong vote of confidence in our city’s youth recreation initiatives and spaces,” McGuinness said Tuesday night. “Along with the renewal of our senior activities millage, these resources power the direct services to support our Pontiac families.”
Retired Pontiac city worker Cynthia Carr-Lee voted for the millage. Carr-Lee said her work with the city gave her a closer look at what youth need in Pontiac .
“Any time there is something positive for the youth — and I think the millage is — I’m all for the children,” said Carr-Lee, 68.
Voters in several cities and townships across Oakland County gave the OK to multiple millages, most of them renewals of some kind, though some measures failed.
A millage to fund pathways in Rochester Hills passed by a wide margin, along with a police, fire and EMS millage in Royal Oak .
But in Independence Township , voters rejected a police protection millage, along with a separate measure for a school resource officer. With 100% of precincts reporting, Orion Township voters also said no to two millages: a police operating millage and one for fire and EMS. Brandon Township voters also rejected a police services millage renewal by a narrow margin.
Orion Township’s police millage would’ve renewed and adjusted the township’s current approved police millage from 3.5 mills, approved by voters in 2020, to 3.75 mills. Township officials say the expired millage is no longer sufficient to keep pace with community growth and increasing demand for law enforcement services.
West Bloomfield supervisor
In West Bloomfield , Township Supervisor Jonathan Warshay defeated challenger Jonathan Landsman in the Democratic primary, 59% to 41%, according to unofficial results.
Warshay, 65, a longtime former trustee in the township, was appointed by the township board as supervisor in 2024 to become supervisor and replace Steve Kaplan . Tuesday’s victory would pave the way for his first full four-year term because there are no Republicans running.
Landsman, 70, had criticized the way the township runs its building, environment and development services department, arguing the permitting process needs to be more efficient. Warshay acknowledged the township has at times had issues responding to building applicants, but has spoken highly of his work partnering with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to assess building services.
Linda Fiscus , a retired manufacturing company worker from West Bloomfield , voted for Warshay because she’s known him for more than eight years.
“There’s no better candidate that has as much experience as Warshay,” she said.
West Bloomfield was thrust into the international spotlight earlier this year when a terrorist attacked Temple Israel synagogue in the township in late March. Both candidates praised the township’s and law enforcement’s response to the attack.
Auburn Hills fire millage
Auburn Hills’ dedicated millage for fire and EMS services passed 55% to 45%, according to unofficial results with 100% of precincts reporting.
The millage will increase from 1.5 mills to 4 mills, which city officials say will allow them to hire more firefighters cross-trained as paramedics and replace equipment.
Auburn Hills’ fire and EMS currently operate with 24 people and a half-a-million-dollar deficit, according to City Manager Thomas Tanghe . He estimates the deficit would grow to more than $1.3 million in five years if the millage wasn’t raised.