By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
TUSCOLA COUNTY — When it comes time for the next election Tuesday, Feb. 26, only those in the Gagetown area will have to go to the polls.
Gagetown Village officials will be requesting a renewal of their millage for law enforcement protection.
“The request is for 3.5 mills for 10 years,” said Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting.
If approved, this proposal will renew an existing millage and will allow and permit the Village of Gagetown to continue to fund Village of Gagetown law enforcement projects, she explained.
See MILLAGE A9
The ballot proposal says: “Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the Village of Gagetown be increased by Three Dollars and Fifty Cents ($3.50) per thousand dollars ($3.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of ten (10) years, 2013 to 2022 inclusive, for the sole and exclusive purpose of providing for the Village of Gagetown Police Department to continue to provide law enforcement services?”
It is estimated the 3.5 mill levy would generate about $17,900 the first year.
According to Tuscola County Equalization Director Walt Schlichting, the millage renewal would continue cost the property owner of an $80,000 home about $140 a year.
Also, for Elmwood Township residents, which is where the village of Gagetown is located, there will be a ballot proposal for the Owendale – Gagetown School to be decided on.
While most of the Owen-Gage School District is in Huron County, part of the school district is in Elmwood Township. (See related article).
The district will be requesting a 2-year bond issue of 2.95 mills, which would decrease to 2.58 mills over the years to do upgrades.
The 2.95 mill bond request for a property owner with an $80,000 home would start out costing about $118 the first few years and then decline slightly as the millage goes down.
Currently, the district is debt free.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.
