Millages dominate Menominee County ballot
ESCANABA — Menominee County voters will have various decisions to make in the upcoming primary election. Here’s what’s on the ballot:
MENOMINEE COUNTY SHERIFF
Joseph Grinsteiner and Darrin Kudwa are the two Republican candidates in the primary for the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office. The winner of the Republican primary will look to unseat current Sheriff and Democrat Michale T. Holmes.
MEYER TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Carol Arnold and Maxine Gatien are the two Republican candidates in the primary for the treasurer position in Meyer Township. The winner of the Republican primary will not have a Democratic challenger, as there are none on the ballot.
MELLEN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Francis J. Corey, Bonnie J. Phillipps and Tim Starzynski are the three Republican candidates in the primary for the trustee position in Mellen Township. There are two trustee positions in Mellen Township, currently held by incumbents Corey and Phillipps. The winners of the Republican primary will not have a Democratic challenger, as there are none on the ballot.
LAKE TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Barbara J. Peterson, Warren Suchovsky and Charlene Hunter Peterson are the three Republican candidates in the primary for the treasurer position in Lake Township. Peterson is the incumbent.
The winner of the Republican primary will not have a Democratic challenger, as there are none on the ballot.
CEDARVILLE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
David M. Buechler, John J. Slavick and Bill Wotruba are the three Republican candidates in the primary for the trustee position in Cedarville. There are two open trustee positions in Cedarville Township, currently held by incumbents Buechler and Wotruba. The winners of the Republican primary will not have a Democratic challenger as there are none on the ballot.
NADEAU TOWNSHIP CLERK
Nick Kasbohm and Julie L. Thiry are the two Republican candidates in the primary for the clerk position in Nadeau Township. The winner of the Republican primary will not have a democratic challenger, as there are none on the ballot.
MENOMINEE COUNTY 911 AND CENTRAL DISPATCH MILLAGE
Residents in Menominee County will be asked to renew a levy of up to .6152 mills — $0.6152 for each $1,000 of taxable value against all taxable property within Menominee County for a period of five years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive, to continue funding for the Menominee County 911 and Central Dispatch.
If approved and levied in full, the millage will raise roughly $572,407 for dispatch in the first calendar year.
MENOMINEE COUNTY LIBRARY MILLAGE
Residents in Menominee County will be asked to renew a levy of up to .3692 mills — approximately $0.37 for each $1,000 of taxable value against all taxable property within Menominee County for a period of five years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive, to continue funding for the Menominee Library System.
If approved and levied in full, the millage will raise roughly $343,518 for the operation of the library in the first calendar year.
MENOMINEE COUNTY ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR MILLAGE
Residents in Menominee County will be asked to renew a levy of up to 1.500 mills — $1.50 for each $1,000 taxable value against all taxable property within Menominee County for a period of five years, 2024 to 2028, inclusive, to fund local and primary and bridge maintenance and repair in the townships, City of Menominee, City of Stephenson, Village of Powers, Village of Carney and Village of Daggett.
If approved and levied in full, the millage will raise an estimated $1,395,660 for local and primary and bridge maintenance and repair for the previously mentioned townships, cities and villages for the first calendar year. The millage revenues will be disbursed to the Menominee County Road Commission as well as the townships, cities and villages.
STEPHENSON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINKING FUND MILLAGE
Residents in the townships of Cedarville, Daggett, Holmes, Ingallston, Lake, Mellen, Menominee and the City of Stephenson will be asked by Stephenson Area Schools to allow the district to continue to levy the building and site sinking fund millage that expires with the 2024 tax levy. Should the current millage be approved, it would be a rate of .9954 — approximately $1 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation which may be assessed against all property in the Stephenson Avenue Public School area. The renewal is for a period of three years, 2025 to 2027, to continue to provide for a sinking fund to purchase of real estate for sites, construction or repair of school buildings, upgrading the school security and all other purposes authorized by law.
If the millage is approved and levied in 2025, the school district expects to collect roughly $307,008.
NORTH CENTRAL AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINKING FUND MILLAGE
Residents in the Townships of Gourley, Harris, Meyer and Spalding will be asked by North Central Area Schools to allow the board of education to levy three mills — $3 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation for a period of four years, 2024 to 2027, to create a sinking fund to purchase of real estate for sites; construction or repair of school buildings; upgrading the school security; acquisition of transportation vehicles for students, acquisition of parts, supplies and equipment for the maintenance of student transportation vehicles; acquisition of eligible vans and trucks to carry parts, equipment and personnel for or in maintenance of school buildings; acquisition of parts, supplies and equipment used to maintain said trucks and vans; and all other purposes authorized by law.
If the millage is approved and levied in 2024, the school district expects to collect roughly $359,844.
DAGGET TOWNSHIP ROAD MAINTENANCE MILLAGE
Residents in the Township of Daggett will be asked to approve an increase of up to two mills — $2 per $1,000 of taxable value and levy for five years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive for road maintenance and improvements with the Menominee County Road Commission. If passed, the additional mills will raise an estimated $56,000 in the first year the millage is levied.
SPALDING TOWNSHIP FIRE MILLAGE RENEWAL
Residents in the Township of Spalding will be asked to renew and increase the current millage rate of 0.9971 per $1,000 of taxable value to the original votes mills — approximately $1 per $1,000 of taxable value and levied for six years, 2026 to 2031, inclusive, for the fire department operating purposes and fire equipment for the Spalding Township Fire Department. $60,111 is the expected amount raised in the first year if the millage is levied.
SPALDING TOWNSHIP FIRE TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT MILLAGE
Residents in the Township of Spalding will be asked to approve an increase of up to 1.00 mills — $1 per $1,000 in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section Six of the Michigan Constitution against all taxable property within Spalding Township for a period of 10 years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive, for purchasing and equipping a new fire truck and equipment for the Spalding Township Fire Department. $60,111 is the expected amount raised in the first year if the millage is levied.