Waterford Today

Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) received another letter in opposition to the House Bill 5229, suggesting altering the bill to protect the rights of Oakland County residents. 

"Received yet another letter opposing HB 5229, the transit boondoggle," Maddock said in a Facebook post about the letter. "Some apparently hope that it can be reformed or fixed, but having heard from so many who are on fixed incomes and can't afford more taxes, I don't think you can make enough changes to it to turn a bad deal into a good deal."

The letter, sent by Michael Gingell (R-Lake Orion), chair of Republican Caucus of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, proposed six changes to HB 5229. 

Gingell said in his letter the bill should allow voters to self-determine whether they want to participate in the regional transit district, require a two-thirds vote in order to form a regional transit contract, publish a detailed and transparent plan of the transit contract and decrease the tax limitations. 

In addition, Gingell said in his letter that the bill should "require that the voters in each participating entity approve a renewal of a tax." Lastly, protections should also be provided for taxpayers who are a part of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, Gingell said in his letter. 

The Legislature was asked to thoroughly review and incorporate his proposed ideas.