Brought to you by Election Magic 5/1/2015 - 5/5/2015

Proposal Text

State of Michigan -- Proposal 15-1

A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. The proposed constitutional amendment would: - Eliminate sales/use taxes on gasoline/diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads. - Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF). - Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career/technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges/universities. - Give effect to laws, including those that: - Increase sales/use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment. - Increase gasoline/diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes. - Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects. - Increase earned income tax credit. Should this proposal be adopted?

Van Buren County -- Public Transit Renewal

PUBLIC TRANSIT MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal is a renewal or continuation of the previous millage authorized by voters for Public Transit. Shall the previously voted increase of 0.2500 mill ($0.2500 per $1,000 of taxable value), in the tax limitation, imposed under Article IX Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, as reduced by the required millage rollback which last resulted in a levy of 0.2480 mill ($0.2480 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all real and personal property in Van Buren County, Michigan, which will expire in 2015, be renewed at .2480 mill ($0.2480 per $1,000 of taxable value) on real and personal property in Van Buren County for a period of four (4) years beginning in 2016 through 2019 for the exclusive use of Public Transit purposes, to include accommodation for seniors and disabled persons? A portion of the revenue collected may be required to be distributed to the Downtown Development Authorities, Tax Increment Financing Authorities, Local Development Financing Authorities and Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities established in South Haven City, Bangor City, Hartford City, Gobles City, Keeler Township, South Haven Township, Villages of Lawrence, Lawton, Paw Paw and Mattawan. It is estimated that the revenue collected by the County as a result of this proposal will be $760,500 in the first calendar year of the levy.

Columbia Township -- Zoning Proposal

ZONING ORDINANCE PROPOSAL Shall the Columbia Township Zoning Ordinance Section 3.04 allow home occupations – Class II including auto repair in Agricultural Districts as a use permitted by a special use permit?

Hamilton Township -- Road Renewal Proposal

ROAD IMPROVEMENT & MAINTENANCE MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal is a renewal or continuation of the previous millage authorized by voters for road improvements and road maintenance. Shall the previously voted increase of 1.0000 mils ($1.0000 per $1,000 of taxable value), in the tax limitation, imposed under Article IX Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, as reduced by the required millage rollback which last resulted in a levy of .9980 mil ($.9980 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all real and personal property in Hamilton Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, which expired in 2014, be renewed and increased by 0.002 mil ($.002 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of three (3) years commencing in tax year 2015 to 2017 inclusive for the purpose of providing funds for road improvements and maintenance within the township. It is anticipated that the revenue collected by Hamilton Township as a result of this proposal will be $50,773 in the first year of the levy.

Gobles Public Schools -- Operating Millage Renewal

OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Gobles Public Schools, Van Buren and Allegan Counties, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2015 to 2018, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $750,664 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2014 tax levy)?

Marcellus Community Schools -- I. Operating Millage Renewal

I. OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2015 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Marcellus Community Schools, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2016 to 2020, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $904,073 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Marcellus Community Schools -- II Operating Millage Renewal

II. OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction, and renews millage that will expire with the 2015 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 1.5 mills ($1.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Marcellus Community Schools, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2016 to 2020, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $-0- (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction) (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Van Buren District Library -- Millage Proposal

Shall the Van Buren District Library be authorized to levy a new additional tax annually upon the taxable value of all property subject to ad valorem taxation within the district of the Van Buren District Library in an amount not to exceed 0.2 mill ($0.20 for each $1,000 of taxable value), commencing in 2015 and continuing in perpetuity, to provide funds for all library purposes authorized by law? The following is for informational purposes: This millage will raise estimated revenues of $364,000 in 2015 (the first year of the levy). To the extent required by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage (approximately 0.4% in the first year of the levy) will be captured within the districts of and disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Bangor and the Village of Lawrence, the Local Development Finance Authority of the Village of Lawrence, and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority of Van Buren County. Pursuant to Funding and Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements, 75% of the millage revenues received from Porter Township will be disbursed to the Village of Lawton Public Library and 10% of the millage revenues received from Bangor Township will be disbursed to the Hartford Public Library.