Despite Leelanau Township board members passing language for two renewal millages, the emergency services and general fund, at its regular meeting May 14, it did not meet the deadline for filing with the county to appear on the August primary election ballot.
Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker said while the deadline to get the paperwork to her was May 16, the deadline for ballot wording of proposals qualified to appear on the August primary ballot certified to local and county clerks was May 14 at 4 p.m. The township’s meeting to approve the language started after 4 p.m. at 5:30 p.m. the same day.
However, the township still has time to get the millage renewal language approved for the November general election.
“They needed to have it approved by May 14 at 4 p.m. so their clerk could certify it,” Crocker said. “They have to have it (the language) approved by August 13 at 4 p.m. and then they have until August 15 to get it to me (for the November ballot).”
Township trustees voted 3-1 last Tuesday, with trustee Gina Harder opposed and Georgie Murray absent, to approve the ballot language for the renewal of extra voted millage for Leelanau Township to equip, operate and maintain fire protection and emergency medical services (including advanced life support services) at up to 3.00 mills, or $3.00 per $1,000 of taxable value, to be levied for a period of four years from 2024 through 2027. The renewal millage would raise an estimated $1,717,457 in the first year of its levy.
Trustees also voted 4-0 to approve language for the general fund millage to be renewed at up to 0.4828, or $0.4828 per $1,000 of taxable value, and to be levied for the same period of four years from 2024 through 2027. The millage is used for the purpose of operating “the township’s airport, cemeteries, parks and recreation, planning and zoning administration, or other such lawful general fund services,” and would raise an estimated $276,396 in the first year of its levy.
Mike McMillan, township supervisor, said the proposed millages will maintain “exceptional services while fulfilling our fiscal responsibilities to the taxpayers,” noting that the language approved for emergency services is no change to what the board took action on six months ago when they voted to reduce the millage from 3.55 mills to 3.00 mills.
“In doing the 2024-25 budget, planning on a 3.0 millage, we were able to meet all our obligations, and still have $700,000 in surplus (for the emergency services budget),” McMillan said. “We had an unprecedented wage increase, so that’s now in our base, and we just paid cash for a new fire truck, which we won’t have to buy a new fire truck for 15 years. So looking at all the worst case scenarios, we still have $700,000 in our fund reserve to draw off of… it’s the feeling of the board that we can meet all our financial obligations related to EMT without change in any standards and without tapping into our reserve.”
In addition to the millages that are anticipated to help reduce property taxes, the township board approved the motion to suspend the police services millage for one year. The action will help save property taxpayers $136,000, with McMillan noting that the township has “an extended amount of money” in the police services fund. Board members discussed possibly investing in a portable speed monitor (with a cost of up to $5,000) using police services monies as well.
McMillan said in the upcoming years, he anticipates that the township will bring in more revenue as assessment tax rates continue to increase, and is confi dent that their reserves will be steady. Trustee Harder, the one board member who voted no for the renewal of the emergency services millage at up to 3.00 mills, cited concern over the half mill difference compared to the previous expired 3.55 mills.
“It’s $276,400 a year for four years that we’re taking out of possibility for our EMS, so that’s about a million dollars in four years,” Harder said at the meeting. “I’m not saying that we need it, but I would feel more comfortable if it were at least 3.2 mills… so I’m nervous to take away too much money from this as it appears to be one of the most important things to people of the township.”
McMillan responded to Harders’ concerns explaining that they have balanced the budget with the surplus this year at 3.0 mills. He also said it is possible for future township board’s to make changes to the millage request if they ask for extra voted millage from voters in an off election year.
Several members of the public tuned into the meeting were also concerned about the process of approving the emergency services renewal millage.
“This is one of the most important things the board does is levy taxes, and I’m okay with Mike wanting to cut taxes, and I’m okay with Mike trying to balance his budget and his tax levies, but first of all, the process is wrong, and second of all, I really think that this board should not tie the hands of the future board about what kinds of fiscal decisions they might want to make,” said Leelanau Township resident Doug Whitley. “I do have an issue with bringing up the millage and voting on the millage at the same meeting. I’d rather each year the board say ‘this is how much money we need, and we’ll levy less money.’” Another resident, Anne Harper, also shared the same concerns as Whitley, and the lack of discussion with the public regarding the millages.
“I think the process was somewhat flawed and I think it’s something that should have been discussed a month ago so that there could have been better public input,” Harper said. “The annual levy is different from the four year authorization and what they just did is change the four year authorization rather than just do what they did last year, which is change the levy. They really ought to stay with changing the levy each year appropriately to match the budget and not mess with the authorization, that just creates difficulties for future office holders.”
