Lake Twp. levy to seek funds for law enforcement

7/24/2012

Lake Township voters will see a replacement levy for law enforcement on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The 1.4-mill request would generate about $220,000, police Chief Mark Hummer said. That's about $100,000 more than the current tax yields. The township trustees voted last week to put the measure before the voters.

Chief Hummer said the additional funds would be used to hire two more full-time officers, bringing the department's strength to 15 full-timers. The department also has seven part-time officers.

Chief Hummer said the millage has been in effect since 1980.

"This is not a new tax," he said, adding he was reluctant to seek a replacement levy rather than a renewal, but the additional funds and manpower are needed.

A replacement would allow the township to collect taxes calculated on current property valuations. Because of rollbacks over the years, the levy now collects less than a third of its authorized millage.

The current levy costs the owner of a $100,000 home $12.94 a year. The cost of the replacement levy, if adopted, would be $42.88 a year for that same homeowner, an increase of $29.94.