Did you know there is an election May 2nd? There are two proposals on the ballot for many Clark Lake voters. The first allows Jackson County to raise property taxes to support mental health services, with a portion possibly going elsewhere. This language is copied directly from the ballot:
“If approved and levied, in accordance with State law a portion of the millage may be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Jackson, the Villages of Grass Lake and Springport, and the Townships of Blackman and Leoni; the Local Development Finance Authorities of the Village of Parma and the Township of Blackman; and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority of the City of Jackson.”
The second proposal is a six-year property tax renewal “to provide funds for the education of students with a disability…”
There may be other ballot proposals depending on where you live. Click here to see a sample ballot. You will be asked to fill in a form so the proper information is served.
The full text of these two proposals can be found below.
JACKSON COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MILLAGE PROPOSAL
For the purpose of providing mental health services for Jackson County residents, shall the Constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which shall be assessed in one (1) year upon all property within the County of Jackson, Michigan, be increased, and shall the County be authorized to levy, up to 0.50 mill ($0.50 per $1,000 of Taxable Value) for a period of ten (10) years, 2018 through 2027, inclusive.
If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $2,000,158 for providing funds for mental health services in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value. If approved and levied, in accordance with State law a portion of the millage may be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Jackson, the Villages of Grass Lake and Springport, and the Townships of Blackman and Leoni; the Local Development Finance Authorities of the Village of Parma and the Township of Blackman; and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority of the City of Jackson.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSALS
SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
SPECIAL EDUCATION MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
This proposal will permit the intermediate school district to continue to levy special education millage previously approved by the electors.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 1.55 mills ($1.55 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Jackson County Intermediate School District, Michigan, to provide funds for the education of students with a disability, be renewed for a period of 6 years, 2018 to 2023, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2018 is approximately $6,700,000 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2017 tax levy)?
I believe the above description on the Jackson Medical Resolution is a little misleading as a large portion of the money collected will go to the buildings roof replacement that was recently a ‘surprise’ to our Commissioners. Another question at hand is what is going to be done with the money that has been rountinely set aside in the County annual budget that was used for the Medical Center now that the Commissioners have chosen to laiden this cost to the taxpayer in a way of a millage?
Why is it the County Commissioners push these tax payer millages in ‘stealth elections in May’ when do many of us are down South while a November or August voting days are more readily accepted as Voting Months? This is no less than the third time they used stealth elections in questionable millages.
As my property at Clark Lake is not my main home I am unfortunately not able to vote for something like these things that do affect my property taxes. I feel I should have some say but heck I can’t even get a discounted fishing license lol. I hope that many are able to get out and vote or absentee ballot vote! My opinion is that the bleeding has to stop but taxing and taxing people’s property. Find a new way to come up with the money. As some of these are important items I have stopped voting for anything that is a new or old but with an increase. I vote for only renewal with no increase. Just my hard working 2cents. Excited to be opening up my place and seeing everyone this weekend. Be safe all!