The two Dorr To
wnship ballot issues have been getting the most notice this summer, but there are other economic issues to be decided in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary election.
One will be a request from Allegan County Resource and Recovery to increase the annual per-household payment for recycling services from $25 to $36 for five years. The proposal, which will appear on the Martin Township and Hopkins Township ballots, also will result in residents not being able to opt out of paying for recycling.
Hopkins Public Schools
The Hopkins Public Schools will ask local voters to renew the 18-mill levy on commercial and industrial and non-homestead properties for the next five years, including 2016. The millage will raise a little more than $650,000 annually for the school district.
Martin Public Schools
Martin school will present the biggest package, a bond issue of $17.65 for “erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to a school building; remodeling, installing security measures for, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping a school building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for a school building; and acquiring, developing and improving athletic fields and facilities, parking areas and sites.”
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2016, under current law, is 1.37 mills, for a 0.02 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is 30 years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.94 mills.
The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $5,665,877 and the estimated total interest to be paid is $8,488,328.
Hopkins Township road millage renewal
Hopkins Township voters will be asked to renew a two-mill levy each year for four years to handle road improvements and repairs. The two mills is expected to raise about $160,000.
Watson Township dust control millage
Watson Township voters will be asked to renewal a mill that will be rolled back to 0.9914 mill by provisions of the Headlee Amendment for four years thereby raising a little more than $58,000 per year for dust control on gravel roads.
