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06-08-2025
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Election preview: What's on the Aug. 5 ballot in Chippewa County?
Voters across Chippewa County will be heading to their local polling places on Tuesday, Aug. 5 to make their voices heard about school funding, road improvements, parks and recreation needs and more. Here's what on the ballot: More: What voters need to know about Sault Area Schools' bond proposal in the August election Sault Area Schools Bond Proposal Voters in the Sault Area Schools district will consider a bond proposal for a millage of 1.65 mills to help refurbish the newly consolidated school buildings. The proposal would not increase taxes for county residents and will allow the district to borrow up to $20,540,000. The district is planning on moving playground equipment, renovating an unusable pool at the high school into an indoor gym, updating locker rooms and bathrooms, and more. The ballot language reads: 'Shall Sault Ste. Marie Area Public Schools, Chippewa County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed $20,540,000 and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor for the purpose of: remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping existing school facilities; acquiring, installing, equipping and re-equipping existing school facilities for instructional technology; and preparing, developing, equipping and improving playgrounds and sites? The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2026 is 1.65 mills, for a 0 mills net increase over the prior year's levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is 30 years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.32 mills.' Bruce Township Road Improvement Millage Renewal Bruce Township is asking voters to renew a millage of 2.5 mills, which was previously approved in 2021. It would go towards maintaining and fixing roads in the township for four years, beginning in 2026. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the expired previously voted increase in the 15 mill limitation imposed under Article IX Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Bruce Township, Chippewa County, Michigan of 2.5 mills be renewed to the original voted 2.5 mills, and be levied for four years, beginning 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for road paving, maintenance and improvements within the township, and shall the township levy such millage for said purpose? The estimate of revenue the township will collect if this millage is approved and levied in 2026 is $258,500." Dafter Township Road Millage Proposal Dafter Township is requesting a new millage of 0.5 mills for six years, beginning in December 2025. This millage would exclusively fund road construction, repairs, paving and other road-related infrastructure projects. The millage is expected to raise around $26,283 each year. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the Township of Dafter, County of Chippewa, Michigan, impose a tax limitation increase of 0.5 mills (or $0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all taxable property within the township for a period of six years, 2026 through 2031, inclusive, commencing Dec. 1, 2025 for the purpose of road repairs, maintenance, paving, repaving, construction, reconstruction, bridge repairs and related infrastructure within the township? If approved, this millage would raise an estimated $26,283 annually for six years.' Kinross Township Parks and Recreation Millage Kinross Township voters will decide whether to approve a proposed millage of 2 mills for Parks and Recreation needs. The millage funding would go towards the Kinross Recreation Center, Duke Lake and the community park in Kinross Township. The millage would be levied this year and last for a total of four years. It is expected to raise $131,373 in the first year. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the soon to expire, previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on all taxable real and tangible personal property in Kinross Charter Township, Chippewa County Michigan be re-instated in an amount not to exceed 2.0 mills ($2 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of four years, being 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 inclusive, for the purpose of operating, maintaining, equipping and making capital expenditures for the Kinross Recreation Center, Duke Lake and the Community Park within Kinross Charter Township, this being a reinstatement of 2.0 mills which expired with the 2024 levy, and shall the township levy such millage for said purpose, raising an estimated $131,373.33 in the first year.' Raber Township Medical Services Millage Request Raber Township is requesting a millage that will help fund the newly formed Northern Emergency Medical Services for the next three years. The proposal would levy a maximum of 3 mills to raise an estimated $110,000 in the first year. The new service would cover Whitefish, Hulbert, Chippewa, Kinross, Bruce, Pickford, Marquette, Raber and DeTour townships. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on all taxable real and tangible personal property in Raber Township, Chippewa County, Michigan be increased up to the amount not to exceed 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of three years being 2025, 2026 and 2027 inclusive for the purpose of operating, equipping, purchasing and making capital expenditures for the newly formed Northern Emergency Medical Services, and shall the township levy such millage for said purpose, thereby raising up to an estimated $110,000 in the first year?' Raber Township Fire Protection Millage Renewal Raber Township is also looking for a renewal on its existing fire protection millage. The millage was previously approved at .6955 mills and expired in 2024. The proposed millage would raise an estimated $23,000 in the first year and would last five years, beginning in 2025. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the previous voted increase in the 15 mill limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Raber Township, Chippewa County, Michigan of 3/4 mill ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable value) which has been reduced to .6955 mill by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at .6955 mill ($0.6955 per $1,000 of taxable value) for five years, being 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for fire protection purposes (this being a renewal of the fire protection operating millage which expired with the 2024 levy) within the township and shall the township levy such renewal in millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $23,000?' Sugar Island Ambulance Department Operations The first item Sugar Island Township voters will be asked to decide in the Aug. 5 election is a renewal of the ambulance operations millage. The previous millage was for 3 mills and was approved in 2023, lasting for two years. The new proposal is asking for 2.9811 mills to be levied for three years, starting in 2025. This would raise an estimated $160,979 in the first year and would fund ambulance services on the island. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the previous voted increase in the 15 mill limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution for general ad valorem taxes within Sugar Island Township, Chippewa County, Michigan of 3 mills ($3 per $1,000 of taxable value) which was reduced to 2.9811 mills by required millage rollbacks, be renewed at 2.9811 ($2.9811 per $1,000 of taxable value) for three years, being 2025, 2026 and 2027, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds to continue ambulance department operations within the township and shall the township levy such continuation in millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $160,979.40.' Sugar Island Fire Department Operations The Sugar Island Fire Department is asking for a renewal of its previous millage, which was approved by voters in 2023. The proposal would levy 1.4230 mills on the township for three years to fund fire department services. The proposal would raise an estimated $76,842 over the first year. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the previous voted increase in the 15 mill limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution for general ad valorem taxes within Sugar Island Township, Chippewa County, Michigan of 1.5 mills ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) which was reduced to 1.4230 mills by required millage rollbacks, be renewed at 1.4230 ($1.4230 per $1,000 of taxable value) for three years, being 2025, 2026 and 2027, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds to continue fire department operations within the township and shall the township levy such continuation in millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $76,842.' Sugar Island Solid Waste Services The final item on the ballot for Sugar Island residents is a renewal in the solid waste services millage. The previous proposal levied 1.65 mills on the township for four years, starting in 2021. The new proposal would levy 1.6235 mills on the township for three years, beginning in 2025. This would raise an estimated $87,669 for the first year. The ballot language reads: 'Shall the previous voted increase in the 15 mill limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution for general ad valorem taxes within Sugar Island Township, Chippewa County, Michigan of 1.650 mills ($1.650 per $1,000 of taxable value) which was reduced to 1.6235 mills by required millage rollbacks, be renewed at 1.6235 ($1.6235 per $1,000 of taxable value) for three years, being 2025, 2026 and 2027, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds to continue solid waste services within the township and shall the township levy such renewal in millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $87,669.' — Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@ This article originally appeared on The Sault News: What's on the ballot in Chippewa County for the Aug. 5, 2025 election? 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06-08-2025
- Politics
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Voters approve Sault Area Schools bond proposal
SAULT STE. MARIE — According to unofficial results, voters have approved a bond proposal for Sault Area Schools, allowing for renovations at the newly consolidated school buildings. In the Tuesday, Aug. 5 election, voters in the school district approved the proposal with 1,892 yes votes to 1,523 no votes. "We are deeply grateful to the voters for standing behind the students and staff of Sault Ste. Marie," said Sault Superintendent Amy Kronemeyer. "It really reflects the power of the community and what we represent when we invest in our children's future. It will impact students for decades." Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our content More: What voters need to know about Sault Area Schools' bond proposal in the August election Sault Area Schools had proposed a millage that would not increase taxes but would allow them to raise an estimated $20,540,000. The district will levy a millage of 1.65 mills for the next 30 years, with the funds to be used for remodeling and refurnishing to make the newly consolidated schools a better fit for the students' needs. As part of the consolidation, elementary students will move to the former middle school and middle school students will move to the high school, which will house both high school and middle school classes. "We are absolutely excited to begin the new school year, the energy among the staff is unprecedented," said Kronemeyer. "They are working hard to get their rooms ready, all of their belongings have been moved to the new school buildings. We are really grateful for the opportunity to serve the students of Sault Ste. Marie. It's what we do, what we love and I have the most committed and dedicated staff that serves our students." More: Sault Area Schools to move forward with building consolidations Planned projects include turning the unusable pool at the high school into a full-size indoor gym, updating the locker rooms and bathrooms, and adding new technologies for both educational and security purposes. The district is also planning on renovating the library, multipurpose room and elementary playground area to fit the needs of the student population. Currently, there is no viable playground site at the new elementary school. The school board is bringing the coalition back together to work alongside architects and engineers to plan the renovations. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, and most of the improvements will be ready for the 2026-27 school year. "It's a long process but one that we will transparently publicize on our website so people can follow along," said Kronemeyer. — Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@ This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Voters approve Sault Area Schools bond proposal in Aug. 5, 2025 election Solve the daily Crossword
