While most people have been focused on the party primary races at the top and front of this Tuesday's primary ballot, they also have important issues to vote on at the bottom and back of their ballots. Eight municipalities in Washtenaw County, along with Oakland Community College, have millage and bond proposals up for a decision. Most of these are renewals of existing property taxes, not requests for new or increased taxes. Nearly all are also for the usual operating expenses, capital expenditures, or expansions in services.

Sharon Township

The major exception to all of the above is the combined bond and millage proposal in Sharon Township. That proposal asks the voters to approve the borrowing of up to $880,000.00 and an increase of 1.5 mills to their property taxes for the next 15 years. The measure is intended to pay off a judgment of $683,333 accrued as a result of township resident Roy Gourley fighting the township's 2007 condemnation of 25 acres of his land for a wastewater treatment and disposal facility. For a timeline of the case, click here (PDF).

According to the Manchester Enterprise, residents who attended a special township board meeting on June 28th filled the hall to overflowing were outraged at the proposal. More residents attended a second meeting on July 1st, at which the Manchester Enterprise reported more outrage and requests for the resignation of several board members, along with the threat of a recall election. The Manchester Enterprise also reported that, should the measure fail, the alternative would involve the township supervisor assessing a 10 mill levy for one year to make a lump sum payment.

To read Sharon Township's information page about the millage, click here.

Information on the remaining ballot measures follows.

Augusta Township

The township is asking for an increase in property taxes to provide fire protection and prevention to the municipality's residents. It is requesting an increase of 2.0 mills ($2.00 per $1000 of assessed valuation) which will last five years until 2014. An estimated $417,696 in the first year the millage is levied.

To read the voter information for Augusta Township, click here.

Freedom Township

The township is requesting a 0.25 mill increase in the property tax to provide for additional road maintenance. The increased millage will last five years until 2014 and will raise an estimated $23,000 during the first year it is levied.

To read the voter information for Freedom Township, click here. To see the sample ballot, click here.

Manchester Township

Manchester Township has three millage renewals on the ballot, one each for the general operating fund, road maintenance, and fire equipment. All three measures request that the millages be restored to the rates they were at before they recently expired and will last five years until 2014. None of these measures impose new taxes. One is effectively a tax reduction. The net effect of approving all three measures would actually lower the property tax rate.

The millage for the general operating fund asks for a raise from the 0.2474 mills required under millage rollbacks to the 0.25 mills they were at before the old extra millage expired. The millage for road maintenance requests that the millage be restored to the 0.35 mills that was approved the last time the tax was up for a vote. The millage for fire equipment asks for a millage of 0.15 mills to replace the expired 0.25 mill rate that was approved the last time this measure was up for a vote.

In their first year, the renewed millages will raise an estimated $49,133 for the general operating fund, $68,786 for road maintenance, and $29,480 for fire equipment.

Northfield Township

Northfield Township also has three millage renewals on the ballot, all of them for public safety. Two of them are for police protection and will last five years beginning in 2011 and ending 2015. One asks for a renewal of 1.0 mills and will raise an estimated $329,626.94 the first year, while the other requests a renewal of 1.5 mills and will raise an estimated $494,440.41 the first year. There is also a proposal to renew the 1.9240 mills for fire protection. This millage would last three years beginning in 2011 and ending 2013 and is expected to raise $634,202.23 its first year.

To read the voter information for Northfield Township, click here.

Oakland Community College

Although nearly all of the Oakland Community College (OCC) district lies outside Washtenaw County, a small portion of it extends into the northest corner of the county in parts of Northfield Township and Salem Township that are served by the South Lyon Community Schools.

OCC is asking for a ten year renewal of the existing $0.7811 millage, which is set to expire in 2012. If approved, the renewal will extend the millage to 2022 and will bring in an estimated $38,502,796 the first year it is levied.

The college has a millage information page, which includes an analysis, a campaign statement, answers to frequently asked questions, and a summary of projects funded by the millage (PDF).

Saline Area Schools

Saline Area Schools has a bond proposal on the ballot that would allow the school district to borrow up to $28,000,000 for the purposes of remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring and installing educational technology in school buildings; acquiring school buses; and developing and improving playgrounds and sites. The first year, no millage increase is expected to service the bonds. To retire the bond, an estimated average annual millage of 1.28 mills over the next 25 years.

The Saline Area Schools have information on the bond proposal on the front page of their website.

York Township

York Township is proposing that the expired 1.00 mill assessment to provide for public safety be renewed at 0.9702 mills for four years ending in 2013. The township expects to raise an estimated $356,730.00 in the first year the millage is levied.

York Township's voter announcement of the election is here.

Ypsilanti City

The city of Ypsilanti has a charter amendment on the ballot that authorizes a millage of 0.9789 mills for public transit. The unusual feature of this proposal is that it takes effect either during any year a millage is not otherwise levied for county wide or regional public transit, or when needed to supplement a county wide or regional millage solely for public transit. In both cases, a vote of the city council would be required. Approval would restore the total authorized millage to 20 mills, which is where it was before the Headlee Amendment. The city estimates that the millage would earn $281,429 when first levied in 2011.

To read the city's information page about the election, click here.