Renewals of three existing property taxes for police and fire protection will be on the Aug. 2 ballot in Sumpter Township.
At its regular meeting May 24, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved slightly revised ballot proposals removing the word “language” in the headings and changing a period to a question mark on the proposals.
The board had already approved seeking renewals of the millages at its March 22 meeting, but then the typographical errors were found and had to be addressed.
On the Aug. 2 ballot will be:
- FIRE PROTECTION MILLAGE RENEWAL – Shall the expired previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Sumpter Township of 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied for 4 years, 2016 through 2019 inclusive for fire department protection, operations, and maintenance of the Sumpter Township fire department raising an estimated $322,439.00 in the first year the millage is levied? [ ] Yes [ ] No
- POLICE PROTECTION MILLAGE RENEWAL – Shall the expired previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Sumpter Township of 2 mills ($2.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied for 6 years, 2016 through 2021 inclusive for police protection, operations, and maintenance of the Sumpter Township police department, raising an estimated $644,878.00 in the first year the millage is levied? [ ] Yes [ ] No
- POLICE PROTECTION MILLAGE RENEWAL – Shall the expired previous voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Sumpter Township of 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied for 6 years, 2016 through 2021 inclusive for police protection, operations, and maintenance of the Sumpter Township police department, raising an estimated $322,439.00 in the first year the millage is levied? [ ] Yes [ ] No
The 2-mill and 1-mill police millages are both renewals. The 1 mill was passed by voters after the 2 mills passed because more money was needed. At a previous meeting, township attorney Rob Young explained that if the two millages — the 2 and the 1 — are put together as a 3-mill proposal it could not be called a renewal. It would be a new tax and would be confusing to voters. That’s why the millages are being proposed separately
In other business at the May 24 meeting, the board:
- Presented a plaque and lots of praise to Police Department Administrative Assistant Jewel Leonard on the occasion of her retirement, with her last day being May 27. She has served Sumpter Township in several different capacities over her 30 years of service. “There aren’t nearly enough Jewel Leonards in the world,” said Police Chief Eric Luke on his department’s Facebook page. “With her bright smile and outgoing personality, Jewel has been the best ambassador the police department could ever ask for. She will be deeply missed, and we, her police department family, wish her all the best”;
- Approved the Mayday operations policy for the fire department; and
- Approved the hiring of Christopher William Herrick as a full-time police officer contingent upon successful completion of required physical and psychological examinations and drug screening. Officer Herrick, who lives in Belleville, was on the recently approved list for police department hire compiled by the Belleville Civil Service Commission. Herrick resigned from the Van Buren Township Police Department about a year ago.