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Should Farmington and Farmington Hills Merge?

Should Farmington and Farmington Hills Merge?. Miranda Webster 2/27/07. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070220/BLOG07/70220058/1007/NEWS. Merge two whole cities?.

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Should Farmington and Farmington Hills Merge?

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  1. Should Farmington and Farmington Hills Merge? Miranda Webster 2/27/07 http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070220/BLOG07/70220058/1007/NEWS

  2. Merge two whole cities? • In 2006, the City of Farmington Hills hired the architectural firm Hooker/DeJong to evaluate the city’s financial, social, and environmental sustainability to aid in long term planning. They recommended a merger between the cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington. • Makes sense since the two cities are fairly homogeneous and share many city services already. • But would merging the two cities invalidate the Tiebout model?

  3. Farmington was established in the 1800s Population – 10,423 Median family income - $54,998 Median home value - $173,900 City tax rate – 14.4163 mills Farmington Hills incorporated 1973 – was Farmington Twp Population – 82,111 Median household income - $67,493 Median home value - $227,300 City tax rate – 10.0216 mills Similar Communities Demographic data from 2000 SEMCOG community profiles. Tax data from municipal sites

  4. Share Many Services • In addition to similar demographics, the two cities share a cultural identity rooted in their many shared services • Public library system • Public school system • 47th District Court • Multicultural/Multiracial Community Council • Cultural, youth, senior, and recreational programming • Police and fire backup • Both have Council-Manager forms of governments • Main obstacles are the different tax, debt, and bureaucratic structures (Who gets to sit on the new council? Who gets to be police chief?)

  5. Economic Benefits to Merger After Merger Current Revenue $ • The larger tax base and population size would add revenue lowering overall marginal tax rate. Expenditures • More efficient size will lead to cost savings – i.e.. single fire/police chief, city government Higher Base Means More Bang for the Buck! B0 B1 Base

  6. My Thoughts • Since both communities already share a wide range of services, combining them would not reduce consumer choice. Both communities are fairly homogeneous with similar incomes, housing values, median local government preferences. • Combining governments would allow for roughly the present level services at a lower overall cost. The need to contain costs is obvious in the present financial climate but preserving services will give the community a competitive boost in relation to other communities when better economic times return. • The initiative would need voter approval after further study, but given proper publicity, it will likely pass.

  7. For Further Study • Farmington Hills Sustainability Study Summary by Hooker/De Jong http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/egov/docs/1166562711_322326.pdf (see pgs 20-22) • Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Community Profiles http://www.semcog.org/cgi-bin/comprof/profiles.cfm • City of Farmington http://ci.farmington.mi.us/ • City of Farmington Hills http://www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us/

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