All three Leelanau County-wide millage renewal proposals on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot passed, according to the unofficial election results linked on leelanau.gov. Voters authorized the renewal of the county roads and highways maintenance and repair millage, the early childhood services millage, and the senior citizens services millage.
The election results still need to be certified by the board of canvassers at the time of writing, but the unofficial results show that the roads and highways maintenance and repair millage was approved by 79.45% of the voters, or 6,713 out of 8,449 votes.
This millage is to be renewed at a rate of 0.5000 mill, or $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable property value, for two years. This is the same millage rate that has been approved by Leelanau County voters every two years since 1986. According to the proposal, the millage will raise an estimated $1.8 million in its first year for the county road commission and the villages of Empire, Northport, and Suttons Bay if it is levied in full.
“(This millage) has been invaluable to the people of this county and is validated by the fact that Leelanau County has one of the highest rated road systems and most responsive plow times in the state,” road commission Manager Brendan Mullane said. “It is a great honor to be stewards of this and we will continue our dedication to managing this road system as cost effectively as we can.”
The county’s Early Childhood Services millage was renewed at the constitutionally reduced rate of up to 0.2458 mills, and the reduction of 0.0072 mills restored, for a total authorized rate of up to 0.2530 mills for a period of five years, from 2025 to 2029. If levied in full, it would raise an estimated $913,128 in the first calendar year of the levy.
Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department Director of Personal Health Michelle Klein said that the county will probably not levy the full 0.2530 mills. Last year, the county board only levied enough tax dollars to cover the $671,488 budget of the program, which was a 0.1861 levy out of a maximum allowable 0.2458 mills. Klein said that she will present on the Early Childhood Services program at a county board of commissioners meeting later this month, at which point the county’s equalization department can determine how much needs to be levied.
“The program and services that have developed from the millage have been having an incredible impact. The stories that we’re hearing from families are tremendous. It was first approved in 2020, and we’re just getting things rolling. We’re doing great work, and I truly hope we can continue, because I think it benefits family and children in the county,” Klein said.
According to the unofficial Aug. 6 election results, 5,365 of 8,449 Leelanau County voters, or 63.68% of all registered voters who participated in this election, voted “yes” on the Early Childhood millage proposal, while 3,060 people or 36.32% voted “no.”
The last county-wide proposal was for the senior citizens services millage renewal and restoration. This millage was renewed at the rate of 0.3134 mills and the previously authorized reduced millage of 0.0066 mills was restored, for a total limitation increase of up to 0.3200 mills, for two years from 2024 through 2025. According to the millage language, this is the same level approved in 2020.
The proposal that appeared on the ballot stated that if the senior services millage is approved and levied in full, it will raise an estimated $1,154,945 in the first calendar year. The millage passed with 6,465 out of 8,449 people, or 76.43% of the voters, voting “yes” on the proposal, and 1,994 people, or 23.57%, voting “no.”
“We want to thank the voters for recognizing the importance of supporting our seniors. The passing of the millage ensures we can maintain essential services and programs that promote the health, well-being, and independence of our senior population. As our senior population continues to grow, we are constantly addressing their changing needs and are prepared to meet them wherever they may be,” Leelanau County Senior Services Director Lena Vander Meulen said.
