By Gari Voss
The Elections Office of the County Clerk/Register’s Office coordinates and administers all federal, state and local elections in Allegan County. Spring election turnouts are historically overlooked by voters, but the ballot proposals put forth by schools, cities and townships reflect needs that affect citizens across Allegan County. As May 3, 2022 draws closer, voters can review the proposal language and ask questions to clarify the wording and/or better understand the needs addressed.
School proposals focus strongly on millage renewals. The primary request is “to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law.” This does not change the original school millage that is currently being paid by property owners. The need for the proposal relates to restoring millage rolled back according to the Michigan Constitution of 1963. The public school districts affected are Allegan Public Schools, Delton Kellogg Public Schools, Hudsonville Public Schools, and Zeeland Public Schools.
Allegan Public requests the renewal for 2 years. The 18 mills represents approximately $3,409,000 for 2023. In addition, APS is requesting the renewal of their Sinking Fund Millage rate of 0.9853 mills. The funds from this 10-year renewal will provide funding for construction or repair of buildings, the purchase of real estate for school property, security improvements, acquisition or upgrades of technology, or other building and grounds tasks necessary to maintain the school environment. This millage will represent about $576,000 in 2023. Neither of these millage proposals will increase the current level of property taxes.
Zeeland Public Schools requests 18.4474 which equates to about $9,748,541 that will be realized in 2023. In addition, the ballot contains a millage renewal to Operate a System of Public Recreation and Playgrounds. The renewal .3936 mills will be levied on all ZPS properties, plus there will be an additional .1064 mill increase. The 10-year .5 millage will garner about $923,005 in 2023.
Hudsonville Public seeks only to reinstate the 18 mills on all property that is non-residence or other properties exempt by law. The 18 mills equates to approximately $6,000,000 that will be levied in 2022.
Delton Kellogg Public requests a new operating millage that will bring the property level back to 18 mills. The increase of 1.89 mills represents about $15,003 for 2022.
Township and city requests vary. Road repair is the repeated theme. Add to that senior services and police protection.
The City of Fennville has proposed a public safety millage. The request for a new millage not to exceed 4 mills is for a period of 5 years (2022-2026). The approximate $97,900.88 levied beginning 2022 would fund public safety services and operations – police, fire and/or ambulance personnel, equipment, apparatus, vehicles, capital improvements and other operating expenses.
Casco Township’s road millage is a renewal but because taxes were rolled back to .9483 mill, the township wants to bring this back to a full 1 mill for 5 years. Approximately $263,659 each year will be used to pave, repair, construct or reconstruct roads, bridges or drainage structures in the township. At the same time, a renewal of .25 mill is being requested for senior services. Through rollbacks, currently .2397 is being levied, but senior needs deem that the .25 mill be reinstated for 4 years. The yearly $65,915 will continue to fund activities and services for individuals over 60 years of age.
Fillmore Township has seen their road millage rolled back from 3.0988 to 3.052 mills. These mills are expiring and the Township is asking to reinstate the full 15 mill tax limitation imposed by Section 6 of Article IX of the Michigan Constitution for the repair and maintenance of roads. The approximate $421,176 will be levied in 2022. In addition, the Township wishes to renew the .5 mill for police protection that is expiring. This would be a 5-year renewal (2022-2026) and provide approximately $68,586 in 2022.
Trowbridge Township strives to renew roads. The original 2.5 mills has been rolled back to 2.388 mills. Therefore, the renewal will require a slight increase to return to the 2.5 mills. The total renewal will provide an estimated $213,000 for each of the next 5 years.
The Allegan County Clerk Office reminds voters that “the last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, April 18, 2022. Persons registering between April 19th through May 3rd may do so in-person with the local clerk with proof of residency (MCL 168.492).”
Polls open at 7am on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 and close at 8pm. Additional information on proposals can be found in school, city or township offices.
