×

Millage proposals dominate local primary election ballot

ESCANABA — Local voters will determine whether or not to approve several millage requests during Tuesday’s primary election.

In Delta County, local residents will decide a millage request by the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency. Voters will be asked to “approve the amount of taxes which may be assessed upon all property within the county of Delta, for a period of 10 years from tax years 2020 through 2029, inclusive, at the rate of .8 mills ($.80 per 1,000.00 taxable value) for the purpose of the operation of the Community Action Agency Senior Services Program in Delta County.” If approved, the revenue generated from the renewed millage in its first year would be an estimated $930,441.

Some township residents will also vote on millage requests related to the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA). In the townships of Bark River, Bay de Noc, and Cornell, voters are being asked to allow DATA to levy new millages of up to .5 mills ($.50 per $1,000 of state taxable value) on property from 2018 to 2022. Funds from this millage would give DATA the ability to provide services in these communities. In its first year, the millages for the townships of Bark River, Bay de Noc, and Cornell would collect an estimated $19,510, $14,264, and $10,907, respectively.

In Escanaba Township, a renewal of an existing DATA millage has been requested. This request is for the renewal of the millage for up to 0.5 mills, which would be in place from 2018 to 2022. In its first year, the renewed millage would collect an estimated $54,987.

Other millage-related requests that township residents in Delta County will vote on Tuesday include:

– a road millage renewal proposal in Baldwin Township. If approved, this millage would be renewed at 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of taxable value) for five years from 2020 to 2024. An estimated $100,187 would be generated in the renewed millage’s first year. This funding would be used for township road and bridge construction/improvements.

– an operating millage renewal proposal in Cornell Township. If approved, this millage would be renewed at 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a 10-year period lasting from 2018 to 2027. An estimated sum of $22,348.94 would be generated in the renewed millage’s first year. This funding would be used for operations, maintenance, building, updating equipment (including personnel protective equipment) and training firemen.

– a road millage renewal proposal in Fairbanks Township. If approved, this millage would be renewed at .65 mills ($0.65 per 1,000 of taxable value) for four years from 2018 to 2021. An estimated $14,000 would be generated in the renewed millage’s first year. This funding would be used for road improvements in the township.

In Schoolcraft County, voters will approve or deny a proposed millage renewal for the Schoolcraft County Medical Care Facility. If approved, the millage would continue to be levied up to a maximum of 1.5 mills ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for five years from 2018 through 2022. An estimated $539,286 would be raised in the renewed millage’s first year. Funds collected through the renewed millage would go towards operating and maintaining the Schoolcraft County Medical Care Facility.

Schoolcraft County voters will also decide the fate of a millage proposal for the Schoolcraft Conservation District. This proposal calls for the limitation on the amount of taxes that can be imposed on taxable property in Schoolcraft County to be re-established at .22 mills ($0.22 per $1,000 of taxable value) for 10 years from 2018 to 2027. If approved, this millage would raise about $78,240 in the year it would first be levied. Funds from this millage would support the Schoolcraft Conservation District’s efforts related to conservation, forestry, and education.

The Democratic candidate for the position of county road commissioner in Schoolcraft County will be determined in Tuesday’s election, as well. Democrats Robin LaCroix and William Poniatoski are both included on this ballot. The winning candidate will go up against Republican candidate Isaac Swisher for the position in November’s general election.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today