KENT COUNTY, MI – Five townships in Kent County are asking voters this August to renew the local taxes that fund firefighting services.
Fire millage renewals are on the Tuesday, Aug. 6 ballot for voters in Caledonia, Courtland, Nelson, Oakfield and Spencer townships.
The millages help townships fund fire department operations, purchase and maintain firefighting equipment and vehicles and more.
In Caledonia Township, voters will decide on renewing the millage that funds fire department and law enforcement services through 2029.
The millage would be renewed at a rate of 1.9236 mills, if approved, and the dollars would be used to fund the operations of the Caledonia Township Fire Department and to provide law enforcement services in the township.
The millage is expected to generate about $2.06 million in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to $288 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.
In Courtland Township, voters will decide on a renewal of the millage that funds the township’s fire department through 2033.
The millage would be renewed at a rate of 1 mill, if approved, and is expected to generate about $458,000 in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to $150 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.
While the millage was previously approved by voters at a rate of 1 mill, due to tax rollbacks only 0.9645 mills are currently being levied. The millage question would restore the tax to its full, previously approved rate.
In Nelson Township, voters will decide on a renewal of the millage funding fire services in the township through 2029.
The millage would be renewed at a rate of 0.5 mills, if approved, and is expected to generate about $86,596 in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to $75 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.
While the millage was previously approved by voters at a rate of 0.5 mills, due to tax rollbacks only 0.4794 mills are currently being levied. The millage question would restore the tax to its full, previously approved rate.
In Oakfield Township, voters will decide on a renewal of the millage funding the township’s fire department through 2031.
The millage would be renewed at a rate of 0.4787 mills, if approved, and is expected to generate about $137,776 in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to about $71 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.
Spencer Township voters have two fire protection millage renewals on the ballot.
The first ballot question asks voters to renew the existing millage of 1 mill funding the operation of the township’s fire department through 2028.
The millage is expected to generate about $187,300 in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to about $150 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.
The second ballot question asks voters to renew a millage of 0.5 mills funding the purchase, operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment and vehicles through 2028.
The millage is expected to generate about $93,600 in the first year it is levied. The millage equates to $75 a year in taxes for a property valued at $300,000 and a taxable value of $150,000.