Lawrence Township Voters asked to approve road millage increase
Voters in Lawrence Township will be asked Aug. 2 to approve an increase of up to 2.0 mills ($2 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the township for four years (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) for the purpose of public road construction, improvements, rehabilitation, and maintenance. The 2.0 mill increase is expected to raise an estimated $272,220.84 in the first year the millage is levied. A portion of this millage may be disbursed to the Van Buren County Road Commission, such other or fewer local units of government as the township board determines appropriate.
Lawrence Township seeks to renew and increase Senior Services of Lawrence Township millage
Voters in Lawrence Township will also be asked to renew and increase the previously voted millage of .25 and increase to .50 (.50 per $1,000 of taxable value for real and personal property) for the four-year period of 2022 through 2025 for the purpose of providing funds to be paid to Senior Services of Lawrence Township for the purpose of providing senior citizen activities and general senior services. If approved, it is estimated to raise $68,055.21 in the first year.
Also, voters in Antwerp Township will be asked whether to approve an increase of .5 mills for four years for township seniors. If approved, it would raise an estimated $245,400 annually.
Voters in Paw Paw Township will be asked to approve a .5 mill request for two years for township seniors. If approved, the millage would raise an estimated $134,300 annually.
Voters in Pine Grove Township will be asked to approve a .25-mill request for four years for township seniors. If approved, the millage would raise an estimated $28,200 annually.
County voters asked to renew public safety and ambulance service renewal proposes
The public safety renewal proposal will allow Van Buren County to continue to levy 0.5332 mill, which was previously approved by the electors to fund drug enforcement and road patrol services, but which expired with the 2021 levy. It is estimated that the 0.5332 mill would raise approximately $1,884.933 when first levied in 2022.
The ambulance service renewal proposal will allow Van Buren County to continue to levy 0.9370 mill, which was previously approved by the electors to fund ambulance services, but which will expire with the 2022 levy. It would run for four years, 2023 to 2026
Voters in Gobles Public Schools will be asked to renew a four-year, 18-millage operating millage for non-homestead properties, which includes second-owned homes, commercial, industrial and agricultural properties.
I think voters are not aware that certain townships belong to the Van Buren county senior services and others don’t. Paw Paw township has made the decision to no longer be part of the county senior program but will keep the money and run their own show. Seniors in Paw Paw township will miss out on extensive service supplied through the county. I did not see this in your newspaper but feel it needs investigating. It might be too late for this Thursday but a follow up article would be nice. Senior Services have pamphlets and power point information. They held a meeting today for Porter and Decatur townships and have another scheduled at 11 am on July 27th at Bangor Township hall, July 28th at 11 at Bloomingdale Township hall. They have reworded the ballot so people might now realize Paw Paw township will not belong to Senior Services of Van Buren county.