(WWJ) Voters in Livonia overwhelmingly rejected a $150 million bond proposal that would have paid for the construction of a new police station and library, renovations to the city's fire stations and development of a city center park.
The final unofficial results released by the Clerk early Wednesday morning showed 18,140 no votes and 9,028 in favor.
"Just keep it simple, an emphatic no," one voter told WWJ's Jon Hewett Tuesday. "If we had an opportunity to keep things from rising cost wise we're just gonna say no because it'll never stop, it's way exorbitant beyond just repair and maintenance."
Advocates for the bond issue, including the Livonia Westland Chamber of Commerce, said the proposal was visionary and would lead to a new generation of private spinoff development that will preserve Livonia as a leading, attractive, centrally located community for decades to come.
In Novi, voters approved a $120 million proposal to rebuild the city's police and fire headquarters, rebuild two fire stations and remodel a third.
Over 55% of voters supported the proposal.
The bond will be financed and repaid through a 1 mill property tax increase over 25 years.
Part of the money from the bonds will go toward making locker rooms, showers and sleeping quarters more accessible to women as the city's police and fire workforce continues to see increases in female applicants.
Novi's current facilities were built in the 1970's.
In Macomb County, Clinton Township voters approved a millage renewal for police operations with 63% support.
Two renewal proposals for fire operations in Ray Township passed by slim margins.