Leelanau Township board trustees approved the ballot language for two renewal millages, both the emergency services and general fund, at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The approval of the millages mean that it will appear on township voters’ ballots in the Nov. 5 general election.
The approval comes after the township initially tried to get the ballot wording approved in May to have it appear in the August primary election. Board members missed that deadline, but were informed by the county clerk that they still had time to submit proposal language for the November election.
The general fund millage was approved 4-0, with trustee Georgie Murray absent, 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.
While the general fund passed without disagreement, the specifi c language for emergency services once again was debated. The board voted 3-1, with trustee Gina Harder opposed, 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 3.1 mills, to be levied for a period of four years from 2024 through 2027.
Board members like supervisor Mike McMillan, treasurer Denise Dunn, and trustee Harder disagreed on the proposed millage rate of 3.0 and attempted to compromise during discussion. Harder was the one opposing vote to both the proposed 3.0 mills and 3.1 mills, again citing concern for the half mill difference compared to the previously expired 3.55 mills.
Harder’s first suggestion was to amend the proposed 3.0 mills to 3.3 mills, with the reasoning being that if EMS goes from running on their (previously) approved 3.55 mills, they will lose from their revenue $314,867 every year until 2027.
“So in four years, they’re losing $1.259 million in revenue, that’s a lot of money… I’m certainly way too nervous to decrease it to 3.0 mills for four years,” Harder said at the meeting. “I agree that the 3.55 (mills) is too much because we can see the balance has increased… I think by reducing that revenue that drastically, it could put a new board in a situation where it might have to ask for more money, and I just know that the community values our EMS service and it’s our obligation to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens.”
McMillan said that along with having a balanced budget and steady revenues, the township has between $750,000 and $800,000 in its rainy day fund.
“Folks have to understand if you’re not cutting services and you’re holding on to taxpayer money, we have the fiduciary responsibility to tax properly,” McMillan said in response to Harder’s comments. “I feel very comfortable that we created a budget this year off of the 3.0 (mills) that can make it again.”
Township clerk Jessica Wilson and Harder both voted in favor for the 3.3 mills suggestion, with McMillan and Dunn opposed.
Wilson noted after the first vote was tied that if members did not come to a compromise and “flopped and continued to go down,” then nothing goes on the ballot. McMillan responded, stating that millage language has to go on the November ballot and that they needed to come to an agreement at the meeting.
Wilson then made a motion to instead approve 3.25 mills. The board voted 2-2 again on the second motion made. Following the quick vote, Harder then made a motion to approve 3.2 mills, with the vote again deadlocked at 2-2. Finally, on the fourth motion made regarding the EMS millage language, McMillan made the motion to approve 3.1 mills as a compromise, with the board voting 3-1, ensuring that the wording would appear before the voters later this year.
In other business, the board:
• Confirmed three candidates for the township’s planning commission, including Gerald Schatz for a two year term, as well as Brigid Hart and Brian Mitchell for three year terms.
• Confirmed one candidate, Tom Mayhew, for the township’s parks and recreation committee.
•Approved the lieutenant promotion for Andrew Frank with the Leelanau Township fire department.
