Voters asked to approve Springfield schools levy

Several issues on ballots in Lenawee, Monroe counties

8/5/2014

Voters are heading to the polls today in the Springfield Local Schools district in the Toledo area as well voters in Lenawee and Monroe counties in southeastern Michigan.

Springfield district residents are being asked to approve a 7.9-mill operating levy. A permanent levy, it would raise about $5.4 million a year and would cost a homeowner of a $100,000 house $276.50 a year.

If rejected, the levy would appear on the ballot in November. 

During a primary election today in Lenawee County voters will be asked to renew millage to fund senior centers and provide meals and services.

The proposal requests renewal of 0.482 mills from 2014 through 2020, raising about $1.5 million in its first year. If approved, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $24 a year.

The money would help run seven senior centers in communities throughout the county and offer services to residents age 60 and older.

A number of other township, school, and library funding requests as well as renewals also will be decided during the primary election. Some candidates also face challenges.

Britton Deerfield Schools will return to voters after its request for a five-year, 1-mill sinking fund tax levy was rejected in May by 15 votes. It would generate about $164,000 a year and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $50 a year.

The money would be used for maintenance and repair needs such as fixing parking lots, damaged roofs, and upgrading security measures.

Voters within the Hudson Carnegie District Library system will be asked to approve a new 10-year, 0.75-mill tax to raise about $105,000 in its first year. The library is transitioning to a district system supported by its own millage instead of receiving direct funding from the city of Hudson.

In Clinton Township, voters will decide a road millage request for up to 1 mill for eight years to maintain Clinton Township and Village of Clinton roads.

A four-year, 1-mill proposal to pay for additional police personnel and equipment is requested in the Charter Township of Madison.

In Palmyra Township, voters will consider a renewal of a 1-mill fire department millage for 2014 through 2017 as well as a 0.2-mill increase for 2014 and 2015 to pay for cemetery operations and improvements.

Lenawee County voters in District 2, which includes Cambridge, Rome, and Woodstock townships, will choose from two Republicans in the county commissioner primary.

Incumbent H. Edwin Branch faces John D. Lapham. Democrat Paul Delezenne is unopposed.

The primary ballot for state representative in Michigan’s District 56 features three candidates — two Republicans and a Democrat — for the seat held by state Rep. Dale Zorn (R., Ida), who is running for the state Senate.

The district encompasses most of Monroe County, but excludes London, Exeter, Ash, Berlin, and Frenchtown townships, and the city of Monroe.

The Republican race pits Irma Kubiske of Ida Township, a newcomer to elective politics, against Jason Sheppard, a Temperance resident in his second term as a Monroe County commissioner representing District 8, which includes most of Bedford Township except for Lambertville.

The Democrat in the primary is Tom Redmond, who is running unopposed and assured of a spot on the November ballot.