Election Day Today

Voters will have their say today on Proposal One on whether to raise the sales tax by a penny and add a tax to the wholesale price of gasoline, all of which, supporters say, will mean more money to fix Michigan roads.

But closer to home, residents of the Copper Country have some key ballot proposals that they will decide as well.

Most notably, the millage for the Baraga County Public Library.  The millage is an increase of 0.5 mills for five years that will generate about $120,000 per year.  If that proposal fails, the library inside the L’Anse Area Schools will be partially closed to the public as the school district, who have been paying for the public use of the library, attempts to roll back personnel costs.

If you’ve driven through Lake Linden, you’ve likely seen the signs asking for support for the heavy equipment millage.  The village is asking for a millage of 1.75 mills for five years.

Calumet Township residents will be voting on two proposals that have to do with fixing roads.  In addition to Prop 1, the township is asking for 1.5 mills for eight years for local road repair and maintenance.

Election results will be posted as soon as they become available.

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Here is a breakdown of all of the issues on local ballots during the May 5^th Election.

Statewide

PROPOSAL 15-1

A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation  purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

•   Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.

•   Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).

•   Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.

•   Give effect to laws, including those that:

o Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment.

o Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle

registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes.

o Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects.

o Increase earned income tax credit.

Houghton County:

Calumet Township:

FIRE DEPARTMENT MILLAGE RENEWAL

Shall the limitation of the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in the unincorporated areas in the Charter Township of Calumet be increased 1.35 mills ($1.35 per $1,000.00 of Taxable Value), for four (4) years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), and the taxes so raised be used for fire protection, support and maintenance of the Calumet Township Fire Department, raising in the first year an estimated $77,603?

ROAD MILLAGE RENEWAL

Shall the limitation of the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in the unincorporated areas in the Charter Township of Calumet be increased 1 1/2 mills ($1.50 per thousand of Taxable Value) for eight (8) years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) and the taxes so raised be used for road repair and road maintenance in the unincorporated areas in the Charter Township of Calumet, raising in the first year an estimated $86,225?

Portage Township:

OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 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 2015 tax levy.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 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 Houghton-Portage Township School District, Houghton County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2016 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 levied in 2016 is approximately $1,757,462 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Schoolcraft Township:

HEAVY EQUIPMENT MILLAGE PROPOSAL

Shall the Village of Lake Linden be authorized to levy a millage of 1.75 mills for the purchase and upgrading of heavy equipment, on taxable value of property located in the Village of Lake Linden, for a period of five (5) years, from 2015 through 2019, inclusive, which will raise an estimated total of $21,975 in the first year of said levy?

Baraga County

Library Millage Proposal

“Shall Baraga County, Michigan, impose an increase of 0.5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for a period of five (5) years, 2015 to 2019, inclusive, for general operations and maintenance of a public library, subject to reduction as provided by law; the estimate of the revenue the county will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $121,393; the revenue from this millage levy will be disbursed to the Baraga County Library Fund?”

Covington Township:

Recreation Proposal

“Shall the expired previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Covington Township of 1 mills ($1.00 dollar per $1,000 of taxable value) reduced to .9991 mills ($.9991 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for 5 years, 2015-2019 inclusive, for recreational purposes, raising and estimated $20,496.00 dollars in the first year the millage is levied.”

Ambulance and Fire  Proposal

“Shall the expired previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Covington Township of 1 mills ($1.00 dollar per $1,000 of taxable value) reduced to .8390 mills ($.8390 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for 5 years, 2015-2019 inclusive, for THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING Fire and Ambulance protection, raising and estimated $20,496.00 dollars in the first year the millage is levied.”

Ontonagon County

Interior Township

Township Hall Fund

Shall Interior Township impose an increase of up to 0.50 mills ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for two (2) years, 2015 thru 2016 inclusive, for operating and maintenance purposes of the new town hall, which 0.50-mill increase will raise an estimated $5,229 in the first year the millage is levied.

General Fund

Shall Interior Township impose a renewal of up to 0.50 mills ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for four (4) years, 2016 through 2019 inclusive, for the General Fund, which 0.50-mill renewal will rais an estimated $5,229 in the first year the millage is levied.

Fire O&M

Shall Interior Township impose a renewal of up to 1.0 mills ($1.0 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for five (5) years, 2016 through 2020 inclusive, to provide funding for fire operating and maintenance; and shall the Township levy such renewal in millage for said purpose, which 1.0-mill renewal will raise and estimated $10,458 in the first year the millage is levied.

Fire Department Equipment

Shall Interior Township impose a renewal of up to 0.50 mills ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for five (5) years, 2016 through 2020 inclusive, to provide funding for Interior Township Volunteer Fire Department equipment and expenses; and shall the Township levy such renewal in millage for said purpose, which 0.50-mill renewal will raise and estimated $5,229 in the first year the millage is levied.

McMillan Township

Library Millage Proposal

Shall McMillan Township impose an increase of up to .5 mills ($.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for five (5) years, 2015 through 2019 inclusive, for the purpose of providing library services, which .5-mill increase will raise an estimated $7,063.00 in the first year the millage is levied.