City of Hart Police and Fire

November 3, 2026 General Election
Understanding the Cost, the Need, and the Services

On November 3, 2026, City of Hart voters will consider a new, additional 2-mill public safety millage for four years, beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2030.

The City has not asked voters to approve a millage increase since 2002. During that time, costs associated with police, fire, and emergency response services—including personnel, vehicles, equipment, technology, and facilities—have increased.

The proposed millage is estimated to generate $129,596 in its first year for eligible public safety expenses.

Why Is the City Considering a Millage?
The City of Hart is facing an estimated $230,000 annual General Fund budget shortfall.

For fiscal year 2026–27, the City plans to use approximately $220,000 in available General Fund balance to help offset the shortfall and maintain current services.

Fund balance represents resources accumulated from prior years. While these funds can temporarily support operations, they are not a recurring revenue source.

Once available reserves are depleted, the City Council will need to address the ongoing funding gap through additional revenue, expenditure reductions, or a combination of both.

Potential reductions could affect police protection, public works, parks and recreation, administrative operations, and other City services. No specific future reductions have been adopted.

Current Public Safety Services
The City of Hart currently provides seven-day-a-week police and fire protection through:

• Hart Police Department: 6 full-time and 1 part-time police officers
• Hart Area Fire Department
• Medical First Responders

Annual police and fire expenditures: $813,999
City administration reports that current operations are at minimum staffing capacity, leaving limited opportunities for further expenditure reductions without affecting services.

What Has the City Done to Control Costs?
The City has already reduced or deferred several expenditures:

• Delayed purchasing a police patrol vehicle
• Postponed City Hall parking lot repairs and replacement
• Deferred heating, cooling, and plumbing improvements
• Eliminated professional cleaning services at City Hall

Several of these measures defer expenses rather than eliminate the underlying needs.

What Would the Millage Cost Property Owners?
The proposed millage equals $2 annually for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

For the average Hart homeowner, the estimated cost would be approximately $199 annually, or $16.58 per month.

Property Taxable Value = Annual Cost
$50,000 = $100
$75,000 = $150
$100,000 = $200
$125,000 = $250
$150,000 = $300

How to calculate your cost: Multiply the taxable value shown on your property tax statement by 0.002.

Taxable value is not necessarily the same as market value. Actual costs will vary by property.

Would the Millage Eliminate the Budget Shortfall?
Not entirely.

The proposed millage would generate approximately $129,596 in its first year, equivalent to about 56% of the City's current $230,000 annual General Fund shortfall.

Assuming the revenue offsets existing General Fund-supported expenses, an estimated $100,404 annual funding gap would remain, before other budget adjustments.

What Happens After the Election?
If approved: The City would be authorized to levy up to 2 mills annually for four years, from 2027 through 2030, for the public safety purposes identified in the ballot proposal. Additional budget adjustments would still be necessary.

If rejected: The City would not receive the additional millage revenue. Council would need to address the ongoing shortfall through other financial or operational decisions as available reserves are depleted.

What Can Millage Revenue Be Used For?
Under the ballot proposal, revenue may be used for:

• Police protection
• Fire protection and emergency response
• Public safety personnel and training
• Vehicles, apparatus, and equipment
• Facilities, technology, and capital improvements
• Related public safety operating expenses

Official Ballot Language

PUBLIC SAFETY MILLAGE PROPOSAL
Shall the City of Hart be authorized to levy up to 2 mills ($2.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of four (4) years, beginning with the 2027 tax levy and continuing through the 2030 tax levy, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for police protection, fire protection, emergency response services, public safety personnel, training, vehicles, apparatus, equipment, facilities, technology, capital improvements, and related public safety operational expenses?
The estimated revenue to be collected by the City of Hart if the millage is approved and levied in the first year is approximately $129,596.

YES / NO

Additional Information
For questions about the proposal or the City's financial information, contact:

City of Hart
407 S. State Street
Hart, MI 49420
www.cityofhart.org

This page is provided by the City of Hart for informational purposes only and does not advocate for or against the ballot proposal.