Six township are going to voters next month with ballot proposals covering everything from fire protection to library services.
Four of the six are for fire/ rescue services.
Voters in Cleveland, Kasson, and Solon townships are being asked to support 2.5-mill levies for this purpose. All three are members of Cedar Area Fire and Rescue, each determining the method of fiscally supporting the four-township department.
If approved in Cleveland Township, the millage, with a two-year term, would generate an estimated $340,000 in the first year of collection.
The same levy in Kasson Township would generate $367,000 in the first collection. Solon Township’s 2.5-mill levy would generate $358,000 in 2024 and another $375,000 in ‘25.
Centerville Township voters will determine the fate of a twoyear request for 2.25 mills, also for fire/rescue services. If approved, the levy would generate $342,987 in 2024.
Three library proposals are on the ballot in Leland, Suttons Bay-Bingham and the City of Traverse City, a portion of which lies within Leelanau County.
Voters in the City of Traverse City will see a proposal from the Traverse Area District Library. The organization is seeking 1.1 mills for the next 10 years.
If approved, the extra-voted millage would generate $8 million in revenue for library operations.
The Leland Township Library board is seeking approval of an 8-year, .40-mill request which would help fund operations, maintenance and equipment at the library.
If approved, and collected in December, the library millage would generate $245,000.
A four-year request for .50 mills will go before voters served by the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library. If approved and levied in full, the millage would generate $308,396 when collected in December.
Voters in the Traverse City Area Public School district, which includes portions of Leelanau County, will consider a $180 million bond proposal.
According to ballot language, the purpose of the proposal is for renovation and reconstruction of Central Grade School, safety and security upgrades, facility improvements at all schools, technology upgrades, and bus replacements.
If this is approved, its estimated the debt millage for the new and existing bond authorization shall be 3.1 mills for a zero-net increase over the prior year’s levy. It is anticipated that the bonds will be issued in series. The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025 is .67-mill the estimated simple annual millage required to retire this bond debt is .98 mills.
By law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries or other operating expenses.
