Silver Creek Township Neighborhood Watch/Community Awareness presents a public forum to discuss fire and police service millage on Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at the township hall, 32764 Dixon St.

Silver Creek Township residents are being asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, May 4, to authorize a millage of up to 1 mill to support fire and police service in Silver Creek Township.

Fire protection has been supported by a millage of up to 1.5 mills, which expired Dec. 31, 2009.

Police services have been paid out of the general fund.

The township board has recognized that costs of fire and police protection can be covered by a millage of up to 1 mill – a reduction of a half mill to taxpayers.

Because of changes in contractors, ambulance service will be addressed separately.

This millage allows for budgeting fire protection for the five-year period at the present level with funding for improvements, as they are needed.

Police funding will continue at a foreseeable similar funding level.

Taking this out of the general fund allows Silver Creek to not anticipate any millage increase in the township allocated millage during this period even when the Headlee Amendment reduces each year.

This is a millage request to replace the expired 1.5 mills, with 1 mill to continue quality fire and police protection in Silver Creek Township.

This millage can only be used for fire and police protection.

Invited guest to speak at this forum is the Silver Creek Township Board, Indian Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Sister Lakes Volunteer Fire Department and the Silver Creek Township Police Department.

This will be a forum for the voters of Silver Creek Township to be informed and to ask questions before the vote on Tuesday, May 4.