Rochester Hills residents will vote Tuesday, August 4, on a charter amendment to permanently raise the city's fire department millage from 3 mills to 3.5 mills, a move city leaders say is needed after 224 incidents last year when no fire units were available to respond to emergencies.

As we reported Monday, July 27, the fire millage is one of three proposals on the Aug. 4 ballot. Here's a closer look at what's driving the request and what it would cost.

Why city officials say the increase is needed

The Rochester Hills Fire Department logged more than 9,200 emergency runs in 2025, a nearly 39% jump over the past decade, according to the city's fire millage information page. Fire Chief Todd Gary, who oversees five stations across the city's 32 square miles, called the 224 zero-availability incidents "not an acceptable number" in a July 15 interview with C&G Newspapers.

Mayor Bryan Barnett told The Oakland Press the proposal is driven by demand, not finances.

"We're the third lowest tax city in the county, and we're debt-free," Barnett said. "We don't ask residents for too much, and when we do ask we want them to believe that it is because it's an absolute need."

The city has not raised its fire millage in a decade. Barnett cited growth in the city's older population as a key driver of rising call volume.

What the money would pay for

If approved, the additional revenue would fund 12 new firefighter/paramedics and put a second ambulance and fire engine in service around the clock, according to the city. Officials estimate the 0.72-mill effective increase (accounting for Headlee Amendment rollbacks that have reduced the current levy to 2.78 mills) would generate roughly $5 million in new revenue in its first year.

An estimated $470,000 annually would go into the fire capital fund to replace aging ambulances and engines. Chief Gary has warned the fund's balance is projected to drop toward zero within the next couple of years under the current funding model.

Fire millage dollars can only be spent on fire-related purposes.

What it costs homeowners

For a home with a taxable value of $200,000, the 0.5-mill increase works out to $100 per year, or about $8.33 per month.

Even with the increase, Rochester Hills would remain the third-lowest millage rate among Oakland County cities with more than 5,000 residents, according to city officials.

Charter amendment vs. renewal

Unlike a time-limited millage renewal, this proposal permanently amends City Charter Section 4.2 to raise the authorized fire levy ceiling from 3.0 to 3.5 mills. The new cap would remain unless voters later change it.

If it fails

Chief Gary said the department would face continued reliance on mutual aid from neighboring cities, which increases response times.

How to vote

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 4. Early in-person voting is also available; check the Oakland County clerk's website for locations and hours.