Election Guide for the Manchester area

Election Day is coming: November 5, 2019

On Election Day, November 5, Manchester Township residents will be voting on two millage renewal proposals, for fire equipment and road maintenance.

The “Extra Voted Fire Equipment” millage renewal of 0.15 mills ($.15 per $1,000 of taxable value of property) will raise an estimated $30,680 in its first year and the renewal is requested for five years, for a total of more than $150,000 over the proposed term of the renewal. The fire equipment millage was established to provide funding for equipment and vehicles used by the fire department. Having this fund enables the Fire Department to purchase and replace equipment without supplementation from the general fund, according to Manchester Township treasurer Laurie Carey.

“From fire trucks to fire hose, tanks and gear, the equipment selected and upgraded by the department is based on of a replacement schedule and regulations to continue to improve equipment as it is worn out, or standards mandate,” Carey added. 

The last tanker truck purchased was roughly $325,000. A new pumper truck on the replacement schedule next will cost approximately $500,000. The Manchester Fire Department works hard to secure grant funding and has been successful over the years, recently resulting in $25,000 worth of fire hose that was purchased for $2,500. More recently, Carey said, grant money was used to secure new self-contained breathing apparatus for 10% of the cost. Money gathered from contracts with the townships that the MTFD services also goes into this fund to assure that the department has the equipment that it needs before it is worn out or outdated. 

The Fire Department also has a private fund from donations that is used at their discretion for purchasing extra items not budgeted through the township.

The fire equipment millage would cost the average homeowner of a property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 appraised value) $15 per year, or $30 per year for property valued at $200,000 ($400,000 appraised value).

The “Extra Voted Road Maintenance” millage renewal of 0.35 mills ($.35 per $1,000 of taxable value) will raise an estimated $71,588 in its first year; or a total of more than $350,000 throughout the five year term. The road millage is important to all residents of this township—families use these roads to get into town, and school buses rely on them to safely get children to school. 

“Without improved roads in our township, it is difficult to entice young families or elderly to buy a home here and be a part of our community,” Carey said. “This is something that helps the entire community. With declining numbers in our schools and vacant storefronts, we need to be focused on how to make Manchester a destination for all.”  

Road funding is used and frequently matched by the County Road Commission to improve and stabilize the roads and replace bridges so that school buses, residents and fire trucks can safely travel on them. In the past three years, the road millage two bridges/culverts had to be replaced, totaling nearly $187,000, as they were no longer safe for fire trucks or school buses.

Carey added that the general fund is used to supplement the road maintenance fund when bigger projects exceed the millage money collected. “This happens when the township supplements the costs incurred by having a higher volume of fire runs in the village, resulting in a shortfall of their portion of millage funding,” she said. 

She went on to explain that the number of village runs is about 30 percent higher than the surrounding township, resulting in a shortage of approximately $20,000. “The township supplements this additional expense—which is coincidentally about what the village generates in road millage,” she added. 

The road maintenance millage would cost the average homeowner of a property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 appraised value) $35 per year, or $70 per year for property valued at $200,000 ($400,000 appraised value).

The exact wording for the two proposals for Manchester Township is as follows:

EXTRA VOTED FIRE EQUIPMENT MILLAGE RENEWAL Shall the previous voted increases expiring in 2019 in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Manchester Township, of 0.15 mills ($0.15 per $1,000 of Taxable value), reduced to 0.15 mills ($0.15 per $1,000 of Taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 0.15 mills ($0.15 per $1,000 of Taxable value) and levied for 5 years, for the period of 2020 through 2024 inclusive, for Purchase of Fire/Rescue Equipment for Manchester Township, raising in the first year the millage is levied an estimated $30,680.

EXTRA VOTED ROAD MAINTENANCE MILLAGE RENEWAL Shall the previous voted increases expiring in 2019 in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Manchester Township, of 0.35 mills ($0.35 per $1,000 of Taxable value), reduced to 0.35 mills ($0.35 per $1,000 of Taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 0.35 mills ($0.35 per $1,000 of Taxable value) and levied for 5 years, for the period of 2020 through 2024 Inclusive, for Maintenance of Roads within Manchester Township, raising in the first year the millage is levied an estimated $71,588.00.

Also, Manchester Township voters who reside in the Napoleon School District will be asked to decide on a proposal for an operating millage renewal, also known as a “Headlee Override,” to increase the 18-mill tax on non-homestead property to 18.225 mills. This increase of .225 mills would cost the average homeowner of a property with taxable value of $50,000 ($100,000 appraised value) $11.25 per year, or $22.50 per year for property valued at $100,000 ($200,000 appraised value)

Freedom and Sharon Township voters who reside in the Chelsea School District will be asked to vote on a school bonding proposal. The total bond will be $81 million and will be used for the purpose of “erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to and remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re‐equipping existing school buildings and other facilities; acquiring and installing instructional technology in school buildings; purchasing school buses; and preparing, developing, equipping, and improving playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities, and sites.” Full ballot language is available at https://www.washtenaw.org/DocumentCenter/View/12435/August-6-2019-Unofficial-List-of-County-and-Local-Proposals?bidId=

Polling sites are located at each of the township halls:

• Manchester Township: 275 S. Macomb Street, Manchester
• Sharon Township: 18010 W Pleasant Lake Rd, Manchester
• Freedom Township: 11508 E Pleasant Lake Rd, Manchester
• Bridgewater Township: 10990 Clinton Rd, Manchester (There are no state, county, or local proposals affecting voters in Bridgewater Township this Election Day).

Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on November 5. Absentee ballots are available from your township office.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.