SOUTHWEST MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan’s presidential primary is Tuesday March 10th, but voters will see more than just the presidential candidates on the list.
There are a number of ballot proposals in various cities and townships ranging from school levies and public safety millages, to infrastructure and public transportation increases.
Voter registration information, sample ballots, and more can always be found on the state’s website.
Here are some of the proposals residents will decide in their specific voting areas:
— ALLEGAN COUNTY —
– Allegan City –
- Proposal One asks voters whether the City of Allegan should be allowed to sell .30 acres of land in the western portion of Oakwood Cemetery to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo.
- Proposal Two asks voters whether the City of Allegan should be allowed to sell up to .33 acres of land in Mahan Park for development as a hotel, as part of a transaction in which at least .38 acres of new park land are added to it.
– Casco Township, Cheshire Township, Lee Township, South Haven, Trowbridge Township –
- This proposal will increase the levy by the intermediate school district of special education millage previously approved by the electors. Shall the current 3.3177 mills limitation ($3.3177 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the annual property tax previously approved by the electors of Van Buren Intermediate School District, Michigan, for the education of students with a disability be increased by .9 mill ($0.90 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $3,730,173 from local property taxes authorized herein?
– Dorr Township –
- Shall the tax limitation on all taxable property within Dorr Township, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased and the Township be authorized to levy a millage in an amount not to exceed .60 mill ($.60 on each $1,000 of taxable value), of which .2951 mill is a renewal of the millage rate that expired in 2019 and .3049 mill is new additional millage, for ten (10) years, 2020 to 2029 inclusive, to provide funds for operating, maintaining and equipping the Dorr Township Library and for all other library purposes authorized by law? The estimate of the revenue the Township will collect in the first year of levy (2020) if the millage is approved and levied by the Township is approximately $166,000.
– Ganges Township –
- Shall Glenn Public School, Allegan County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Four Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($420,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting additions to, remodeling, including security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping a school building; and developing and improving a site? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2020 is 0.33 mill ($0.33 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twelve (12) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 0.74 mill ($0.74 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
– Monterey Township –
- Shall the previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6, of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Monterey Township reduced by required rollback to 5 mills be renewed at 5 mills ($5.00 per $1000.00 of taxable value) and levied for 4 years, 2021 through 2024 inclusive, for road improvements within Monterey Township, raising an estimated $429,622 in the first year the millage is levied?
– Saugatuck City, Saugatuck Township and Douglas –
- Shall Saugatuck Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Five Million Six Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars ($35,640,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to school buildings; partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring, installing, and equipping school buildings with instructional technology; purchasing school buses; and preparing, developing, improving, and equipping a playground and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2021, under current law, is 1.60 mills ($1.60 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-two (22) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.29 mills ($2.29 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $3,990,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances: (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
— BARRY COUNTY —
– County Wide –
- Shall the previously voted increase in the limitation on general ad valorem taxes within Barry County, as established by Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, be renewed and levied at a total of up to 0.9672 mill ($.9672for each $1,000 of taxable value) upon all taxable real and personal property within Barry County for a period of five (5) years, 2020 through 2024, both inclusive, subject to reductions as provided by law? The purpose of this levy is to fund the capital, equipment and operational needs of the Barry County Central Dispatch Center. If approved, it is estimated that the levy of .9672 mill will provide revenue of $2,171,206 of which $2,134,296 will be disbursed by Barry County to the Barry County Central Dispatch Authority and $36,910 will be disbursed to the Hastings DDA and LFDA and Village of Middleville DDA. The estimated $36,910 is levied in a predefined area of the City of Hastings and Village of Middleville, only. It is estimated that a property in Barry County with a taxable value of $50,000 will be assessed $48.36 in the first calendar year of the levy.
— BERRIEN COUNTY —
– Bainbridge Township, Berrien Township, Pipestone Township, Sodus Township –
- This proposal will allow the school district 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, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.05 mills ($19.05 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Eau Claire Public Schools, Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 6 years, 2021 to 2026, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2021 is approximately $520,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy)?
– Chikaming Township –
- Shall the expired previous voted increases in the tax limitations imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Chikaming Township, of one and four-tenths mills ($1.40 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed at one and four-tenths mills ($1.40 per $1,000 of taxable value) and be increased by five tenths mills ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value), to total one and nine-tenths mills ($1.90 per $1,000 of taxable value) levied for 4 years, 2020 through 2023 inclusive, for the Chikaming Township Public Safety Services, raising an estimated $1,188,806 in the first year the millage is levied?
– New Buffalo, New Buffalo Township, and Chikaming Township –
- This proposal will allow the school district 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, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.5741 mills ($19.5741 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in New Buffalo Area Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2021 to 2025, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2021 is approximately $12,359,840 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy)?
– St. Joseph Township –
- Public Safety Millage: In support of continued operation of the St. Joseph Charter Police and Fire Departments, and to support Ambulance services, shall the amount of taxes which may be assessed against the taxable valuation of all property in St. Joseph Charter Township liable for taxation, be set at 6 mills ($6.00 per each $1,000 of taxable valuation, as equalized) in the charter township tax levy limitation imposed under MCL 42.27. The above millage rate of 6 mills represents the renewal of the reduced public safety millage of 4.3870 mills ($4.3870 per $1,000.00 taxable valuation, as equalized) and a new millage of 1.613 mills ($1.6130 per $1,000.00 of taxable valuation, as equalized). The authorization to levy said millage is for a period of five (5) years, being the years of 2021 through 2025. It is estimated that the amount of revenue to be generated from the total millage in the first year of the levy (2021) will be approximately $2,607,015.00, of which approximately $700,853.00 is generated from the new (additional) millage.
– Watervleit Township –
- Van Buren special needs: This proposal will increase the levy by the intermediate school district of special education millage previously approved by the electors. Shall the current 3.3177 mills limitation ($3.3177 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the annual property tax previously approved by the electors of Van Buren Intermediate School District, Michigan, for the education of students with a disability be increased by .9 mill ($0.90 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $3,730,173 from local property taxes authorized herein?
— BRANCH COUNTY —
– Algansee Township, Butler Township, California Township –
- Shall Hillsdale County Intermediate School District, Michigan, come under sections 681 to 690 of the Revised School Code, as amended, and expand an area career and technical education program, which is designed to encourage the operation of area career and technical education programs, if the annual property tax levied for this purpose is limited to .6082 mill ($0.6082 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 20 years, 2020 to 2039, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $703,332 from local property taxes authorized herein?
– Butler Township –
- Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Litchfield Community Schools, Hillsdale, Jackson, Calhoun and Branch Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2020 to 2023, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology, for the purchase of real estate for sites for school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $43,000?
– Matteson Township, Sherwood Township –
- Shall the limitation upon the total amount of general ad valorem taxes imposed upon real and tangible personal property in any one year by Glen Oaks Community College District, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 0.50 mills (which is equal to $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value of all such property) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, to be used for improvements of safety and security, energy efficiency, and technology infrastructure, and renovation of instructional laboratories, classrooms and other student spaces, and other capital improvements on its St. Joseph County campus. The estimate of revenue the community college will collect from this new additional levy in the first year of the levy, is approximately $1,024,265.73.
— CALHOUN COUNTY —
– Battle Creek –
- The City Charter currently uses, throughout its text, the words, “he”; “him”; and “his”; when referring to City officers, officials, and employees. The proposed amendment would revise the full text to refer to such individuals in ungendered terms. Shall the Battle Creek Charter be amended to restate the entire Charter in ungendered terms?
- City Charter currently provides for a Commission consisting of four At-large and five Ward Commissioners, with the Mayor and Vice Mayor selected by City Commission. The proposal would provide that City Commission would be composed of a Mayor, three At-large and five Ward Commissioners.
- Shall Charter Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.9, and 3.3 be amended to provide Commission would be composed of a Mayor, elected At-large as a separately elected office, three At-large and five Ward Commissioners and that no person shall be a candidate for the offices of Mayor and City Commissioner on the same ballot?
– Homer Township –
- Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Litchfield Community Schools, Hillsdale, Jackson, Calhoun and Branch Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2020 to 2023, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology, for the purchase of real estate for sites for school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $43,000?
- Shall Hillsdale County Intermediate School District, Michigan, come under sections 681 to 690 of the Revised School Code, as amended, and expand an area career and technical education program, which is designed to encourage the operation of area career and technical education programs, if the annual property tax levied for this purpose is limited to .6082 mill ($0.6082 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 20 years, 2020 to 2039, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $703,332 from local property taxes authorized herein?
— CASS COUNTY —
– Newburg Township –
- Shall the tax limitation imposed under Article 9, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution be increased by 1.0 mills ($1.00 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) and levied for five years, 2021 through 2025 inclusive, for disbursement to Newberg Township for the purpose of operating and maintaining fire protection/first responder and ambulance services, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $83,204.31?
– Silver Creek Township (Eau Claire) –
- This proposal will allow the school district 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, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.05 mills ($19.05 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Eau Claire Public Schools, Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 6 years, 2021 to 2026, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2021 is approximately $520,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy)?
– Volinia Township and Wayne Township –
- This proposal will increase the levy by the intermediate school district of special education millage previously approved by the electors. Shall the current 3.3177 mills limitation ($3.3177 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the annual property tax previously approved by the electors of Van Buren Intermediate School District, Michigan, for the education of students with a disability be increased by .9 mill ($0.90 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $3,730,173 from local property taxes authorized herein?
— KALAMAZOO COUNTY —
– Comstock Township, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Township, Oshtemo Township, Parchment, Portage –
- The Central County Transportation Authority was formed to operate and provide public transportation services within its geographic boundary and seeks authorization from the electors to levy up to 0.90 mills. Shall the Central County Transportation Authority levy a tax, for public transportation purposes, of up to 0.90 mills, being 90 cents ($.90) per thousand dollars ($1,000) of taxable value, on all taxable property within the geographic boundaries of the Central County Transportation Authority for a period of five (5) years, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025? It is estimated that 0.90 mills would raise $4,675,000 in the first year.
– Prairie Ronde Township, Texas Township –
- Shall Schoolcraft Community Schools, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Nine Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($39,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing, and equipping a new elementary school; erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to the high school to convert it to a grades 7 – 12 facility; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping existing school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology in school buildings; erecting an addition to the athletic and maintenance building; and erecting, equipping, preparing, developing, and improving playgrounds, playfields, athletic fields and facilities, and sites? The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2020, under current law, is 4.53 mills ($4.53 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.97 mills ($5.97 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $3,677,531 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $4,680,559. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 25 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.00 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $4,345,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. (Pursuant to State law, expenditures of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
– Schoolcraft Township –
- Shall Schoolcraft Township incorporate as a charter township which shall be a municipal corporation subject to the provisions of Act No. 359 of the Public Acts of 1947, as amended, which act shall constitute the charter of such municipal corporation?
– Wakeshma Township –
- Shall the limitation upon the total amount of general ad valorem taxes imposed upon real and tangible personal property in any one year by Glen Oaks Community College District, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 0.50 mills (which is equal to $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value of all such property) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, to be used for improvements of safety and security, energy efficiency, and technology infrastructure, and renovation of instructional laboratories, classrooms and other student spaces, and other capital improvements on its St. Joseph County campus. The estimate of revenue the community college will collect from this new additional levy in the first year of the levy, is approximately $1,024,265.73.
— ST. JOSEPH COUNTY —
– County Wide –
- Shall the limitation upon the total amount of general ad valorem taxes imposed upon real and tangible personal property in any one year by Glen Oaks Community College District, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 0.50 mills (which is equal to $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value of all such property) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, to be used for improvements of safety and security, energy efficiency, and technology infrastructure, and renovation of instructional laboratories, classrooms and other student spaces, and other capital improvements on its St. Joseph County campus. The estimate of revenue the community college will collect from this new additional levy in the first year of the levy, is approximately $1,024,265.73.
— VAN BUREN COUNTY —
– County Wide –
- This proposal will allow Van Buren County to continue to levy 0.9769 mill which was previously approved by the electors to fund road maintenance, repair and reconstruction, but which expired with the 2019 levy. Shall there be a 0.9769 mill levy ($0.9769 per $1,000 dollars) of the taxable value on taxable property in Van Buren County for the next four (4) years (2020-2023) for the purpose of maintenance, repair and reconstruction of all public streets, avenues and roads in Van Buren County?A portion of the revenue collected may be required to be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities, Tax Increment Financing Authorities, Local Development Financing Authorities and Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities established in Van Buren County, City of South Haven, Bangor City, Gobles City, Hartford City, Keeler Township, Villages of Lawrence, Lawton, Paw Paw and Mattawan. It is estimated that the revenue generated on this proposal will be $3,320,282.00 in the first year of the levy.
- This proposal will allow Van Buren County to continue to levy 0.2471 mill which was previously approved by the electors to fund public transportation services, but which expired with the 2019 levy. As a renewal of previously authorized millage which expired with the 2019 levy, shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in Van Buren County be increased by 0.2471 mill ($0.2471 per thousand dollars of taxable value), for a period of four (4) years, 2020 to 2023, inclusive, for the exclusive purpose of providing funds for public transportation purposes, including the accommodation for seniors and disabled persons? A portion of the revenue collected may be required to be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities, Tax Increment Financing Authorities, Local Development Financing Authorities and Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities established in South Haven City, Bangor City, Hartford City, Gobles City, Keeler Township, South Haven Township, Villages of Lawrence, Lawton, Paw Paw and Mattawan. It is estimated that 0.2471 mill would raise approximately $800,000 when first levied in 2020. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in Van Buren County be increased by 0.10 mill ($0.10 per thousand dollars of taxable value), for a period of four (4) years, 2020 to 2023, inclusive, as a new additional millage, to provide funds for operations and services dedicated to veterans who have served honorably on active duty in the United States Armed Forces? A portion of the revenue collected may be required to be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities, Tax Increment Financing Authorities, Local Development Financing Authorities and Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities established in South Haven City, Bangor City, Hartford City, Gobles City, Keeler Township, South Haven Township, Villages of Lawrence, Lawton, Paw Paw and Mattawan. It is estimated that 0.10 mill would raise approximately $339,744 when first levied in 2020.
- Van Buren Intermediate School District Special Education Millage Proposal: This proposal will increase the levy by the intermediate school district of special education millage previously approved by the electors. Shall the current 3.3177 mills limitation ($3.3177 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the annual property tax previously approved by the electors of Van Buren Intermediate School District, Michigan, for the education of students with a disability be increased by .9 mill ($0.90 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $3,730,173 from local property taxes authorized herein?
– Antwerp Township –
- Shall Antwerp Township Board impose an increase of 1.0000 mills ($1.00 per $1,000 dollars of taxable value), subject to reduction as provided by law, on taxable value of real and personal property located in Antwerp Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, excluding the Villages of Mattawan, Lawton, and Paw Paw, for five (5) years, 2020-24, inclusive, to provide for the maintenance and improvement of roads, and the potential widening of state trunk line highways, within Antwerp Township? It is estimated that the revenue generated by this proposal will be $300,000 in the first year of the levy of which a portion may be disbursed to the Van Buren County Road Commission, the Village of Mattawan, the Village of Lawton, the Village of Paw Paw, Van Buren County, and such other or fewer local units of government as the Township Board determines appropriate. The Township may contract with individuals, entities, and units of government to utilize the funds.
To see specifically what is on your ballot, go to michigan.gov/vote.Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday March 10th and close at 8 p.m.
