07/18/2026
LPOA was made aware of a video that was posted yesterday (7/17/26) spreading quite a bit of misinformation. We commented on that video with facts and corrections however the poster deleted the reply. No attempt at conversation was made by the poster. No corrections have been issued and no apology to the public has been made. For that reason we will post the reply here where it will probably get substantially more views anyways. We have removed the individual’s name so we are not accused of picking on anyone.
Here is what we replied to: This person insinuated the city charter was being fundamentally changed because of the public safety millage. This person claimed taxes in Livonia are disproportionate to other communities. This person claims the public safety millage is a “blank check” and demands a line by line item for spending. This person insinuated the term “support costs” some how makes the public safety millage invalid. Lastly, this person says advocating to defeat the millage and remove funding is somehow not defunding first responders.
Below is our reply. It is important that people know actual facts and it is important to know someone is trying to prevent you from knowing them. Attached is a photo from 2024 regarding taxes. No one likes taxes but we are the lowest taxed community in the county.
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We're not trying to argue on your page but allow us to answer your disputes....The city charter has to be amended to indicate the millage was levied for another 10 year term. Nothing about the charter actually changes. The amendment is simply adding the next millage's time frame to the charter and nothing more. This millage renewal's language is identical to the millage 10 years ago as well (only the dates in the language varies).
Livonia is the lowest tax community in all of Wayne County. Off the top of my head I can recall some numbers from 2024 which should be current enough to carry some relevance to today. Livonia had approximately 13mils of taxes levied at that time. The next lowest community was about 14 mils. The average community was at about 25mils. LPOA doesn't like taxes anymore than the next guy but those are the numbers. LPOA members live in this community as well and pay the same tax anyone else would be paying for this millage.
It would be impossible to provide a line by line item expense list for a 10 year period in a profession with ever changing needs and technologies. What happens if patrol vehicles change in price? What happens if a planned expense cannot be purchased because a company goes out of business? Then you will dispute the original plan is being deviated from, or claim there was fraud, etc. This millage money is primarily used for salaries and benefits which are contractually renegotiated every 3 years. There is absolutely no way to predict costs associated with the next 10 years of changing personnel costs.
Support costs are costs related to personnel. This money is for wages, benefits, training and equipment. We have said that countless times. So has city council and the mayor (I know you don't trust them). LPOA has gone on record on Facebook and at meetings saying personnel is the utmost priority. If this millage were to not be prioritized for personnel LPOA would be leading a public charge on that with major complaints. There has not been any evidence, in the history of this millage, that funds have been misused.
And yes removing $10million of money specifically dedicated to police and fire overnight is defunding first responders. If you're claiming first responders won't be defunded then $10million of something else has to be. And if you're using that logic, it is ironic for a person who despises how the general fund is spent to also want millage money (that has legal guard rails attached to it) to essentially be transferred into the general fund (that has no guardrails and is alleged by you to be misspent all the time).
