Ingham County has seven proposals on its Aug. 7 primary election ballot. See the official language here. For live results on election night, click here.
Justice Millage (New Ingham County Jail)
Topping Ingham County’s ballot items this August is a proposal for a new jail.
“It’s long overdue and desperately needed,” said Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth told News 10’s Alani Letang in June.
The current jail was built in 1964, and maintenance is challenging. Ingham County’s jail is Michigan’s oldest large jail still in operation, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections.
The new jail building would also include Sheriff’s department offices, court facilities and facilities for programming and treatment for substance addiction, mental illness and re-incarceration, according to the ballot proposal. The proposal claims the new facility will be safer for the public, staff and inmates.
If the millage passes, the owner of a $200,000 house would pay an extra $85 per year in taxes. The proposal says it expects to raise more than $6 million in the first year. The millage will last for 20 years, ending in 2037.
East Lansing Income Tax Levy
Residents of East Lansing will vote on a city charter amendment that would raise taxes to fund a variety of public goods and payments.
Sixty percent of the 12-year tax increase would go toward paying unfunded pensions for retired city employees. Another 20 percent would go toward police and fire protections. The remaining 20 percent would fund maintenance and improvements for streets, sidewalks, water and sewer systems, parks and other city-owned facilities.
Because the ballot proposal is an amendment to the city charter, it cannot be changed by city council.
According to the city, East Lansing residents would pay a one percent tax on most income, excluding some income, such as retirement. Non-residents would pay a 0.5 percent income tax. The city expects to raise $10 million from the tax increase, but net $5 million after it reduces property taxes.
The city has a tool for estimating how much your taxes will increase under the millage.
The city says the tax increase is necessary because it “is facing significant, long-term financial challenges” as growth has flattened and costs have risen over the past decade or so.
East Lansing’s general fund has only increased 1.9 percent over the past 12 years, according to the city. It cites multiple reasons for the slow growth, including the Great Recession, less revenue from the state and the fact that Michigan State University is tax-exempt. Also, the city is required by law to pay the pensions and healthcare plans for city employees – something that slow growth makes challenging.
Other Ingham County ballot items
Haslett Public Schools Bonding Proposal: The school district is asking to levy a millage of $2.61 on each $1,000 of taxable property value in order to purchase, at most, $32.7 million in tax bonds from the state. The bonds would be used to build, improve and/or develop school buildings, technology, athletic facilities, support buildings, school buses, playgrounds, driveways and parking lots. See page three of the county’s official ballot language for a full description of the plans and the specifics of the borrowing.
Haslett Public Schools Sinking Fund Millage Proposal: The school district is looking to levy a millage of about $0.77 on each $1,000 of taxable property value for 10 years starting next year. The money would go toward a sinking fund for constructing, repairing and purchasing real estate for school buildings. It would also go toward school security improvements, upgrading technology and other purposes allowed by law. The levy is estimated to raise $450,000 in its first year.
Stockbridge Community Schools Operating Millage Renewal: Renews, for six years, a currently authorized millage rate of about $23 per $1,000, starting next year. 18 mills (and almost $5 million) will go toward operating purposes. The remaining five mills will restore millage lost from reductions by a state constitutional amendment.
Williamston Community Schools Sinking Fund Millage Replacement: This millage would replace and extend millage approved in 2013 for a building and site sinking fund. Proceeds of this 10-year millage would go toward previously permitted purposes, as well as security improvements and technology upgrades. The millage would be $1.00 per $1,000 of taxable property value. In its first year, 2019, the millage would raise an estimated $408,000.
Capital Area District Library Tax: The library would renew its annual tax levy, which will be no more than 1.56 mills for a period of four years. The money would fund library operations, and generate more than $10 million in its first calendar year.
