By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Three Democrats and Five Republicans are hoping their name will be the pick on the ballot in November for US Senator.
Democrats looking for voters to pick their name to be on the slot for a six-year term in the US Senate include Nasser Beydoun of Dearborn; Hill Harper of Detroit; and Elissa Slotkin of Holly.
Republicans hoping to fill the seat include Justin Amash of Grand Rapids; Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids; Sherry O’Donnell of Stevensville; Sandy Pensler of Gross Point Park; and Mike Rogers of St. Joseph.
The August 6th Primary ballot will include several county-wide proposals for voters.
The Clare County Animal Control Services is asking for a renewal of up to .2964 of one mill (per $1,000 of state taxable valuation) for six years – 2025 through 2030 for funding for operations, equipment, maintenance and improvements. If approved and levied in full, the millage will raise an estimated additional $437,589 in the first calendar year of the levy
E911 aka Central Dispatch services will also have a millage renewal proposal for the county on the Primary ballot. Previously approved by voters first in 2008, then renewed in 2013 and 2018, the millage has reduced by the Headlee amendment to .3458 (per $1,000 of Taxable Value) for the first year of six more years. If approved by voters and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $510,520.56 for the County Dispatch systems in the first calendar year of the levy.
Senior Citizens Service millage is another proposal to renew funding for Senior Services for the County at the same millage level previously approved by voters in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018 at the current level of .4742 mills (per each $1,000 of Taxable Value) for six years through 2030. If approved the millage will raise an estimated $700,083 for funding the county-wide Senior Citizen Services program in the first calendar year of the levy.
The County of Clare Spongy Moth (formerly the Gypsy Moth) Special Millage Question will also be on the Primary ballot. The proposal asks voters to approve the renewal of the reduced rate of .9884 of one mill per $1,000 of taxable valuation for four years – 2025 through 2028. If approved, the levy will raise approximately $1,459,220.72 in the first year to operate the Clare County Spongy Moth Suppression program to monitor, control and reduce Spongy Moth outbreaks in Clare County.
Township Proposals on the August 6th ballot include:
ARTHUR TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
Road Millage Renewal of 1.932 mills on each $1,000 of taxable value of the previously authorized millage rate that expired in 2023 for the next four years, 2024 through 2027 for the purpose of constructing, preserving, improving, repairing, and maintaining roads and bridges in the Township. The estimate of the revenue the Township will collect if the millage is approved and levied by the Township in the first year (2024) is approximately $65,000.
FREEMAN TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
Road Millage Renewal of 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of taxable value), reduced to 2.8535 for 2025 (per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for ten (10) years 2026-2035 for the purpose of road improvement – raising an estimated $185,318.13 in the first year.
GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
Road Millage Renewal Proposal of two (2) mills ($2 per$1,000 of taxable value reduced to 1.8518 mills ($1.8518 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at 1.8518 mills ($1.8518 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for ten (10) years, 2024 through 2033 for improvements, repairs, construction, and maintenance of roads in Greenwood Township, raising an estimated $100,874.84 in 2024.
HATTON TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
One mill (1) for Fire Protection Services – (One Dollar for each One Thousand Dollars) of assessed valuation , for a period of five (5) years (2025-2029) for the purpose of securing fire protection contract services for township residents and taxpayers. If approved, this millage will provide up to Forty-One Thousand, Eight Hundred Forty-Six Dollars ($41,846) in the first year.
HAYES TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
Hayes Township Millage Renewal for Fire Protection of not more than 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), reduced to .9733 mills ($0.9733 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and restored to the original permissible levy of not more than 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for six (6) additional years, 2024 through 2029 for the purpose of providing fire protection in Hayes Township and raising an estimated $151,719 in 2024.
REDDING TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
General Operating Millage Proposal for an increase of up to 0.17 mill ($0.17 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levy it for four (4) years, 2024 through 2027 inclusive, for general township operating purposes? The 0.17 mill increase is estimated to raise $4,451.61 in the first year the millage is levied.
SUMMERFIELD TOWNSHIP PROPOSAL
Fire Millage Renewal and Increase of 0.7500 mills ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable value),
reduced to 0.7099 mills ($0.71 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed to the originally approved millage amount, increased up to 1.15 mills ($1.15 per $1,000 of
taxable value), and levied for four (4) years, 2024 through 2027 inclusive, for the purpose of providing fire protection to Summerfield Township, raising an estimated $32,027.50 in 2024.
