PALMER — Richmond Township voters showed their support for funding its fire department during Tuesday’s general election.

Voters cast their ballots in favor of the fire fund millage 79 to 14, allowing for up to 1.5 mills — or $1.50 per $1,000 of taxable property value — to be levied for 15 years from 2019 to 2033 inclusively.

The millage is for the “purpose of providing funding for the operation and maintenance of the vehicles, apparatus and equipment of the Richmond Township Fire Department, raising an estimated $27,000 in the first year the millage is levied,” the ballot proposal states.

Richmond Township Supervisor Scott Mills wanted to extend a “heartfelt thank you” to those who voted in support of the millage.

“I’m thankful and relieved that voters realized that we need this extra money in order to keep the department going,” Mills said. “They obviously felt that the department deserved it otherwise they would have turned it down; so glad to see that.”

He added that the millage is imperative to providing fire services to the township with a “decent response time.”

“With the loss of the Empire Mine income for the township we just don’t have the money to continue as normal,” Mills said. “Everything’s being cut, so we need a little extra money to keep the department afloat.”

How many mills will be imposed at the start of the levy is yet to be determined, Mills said.

Election results are considered unofficial until certified by the Marquette County Board of Canvassers, which is expected to meet at 1 p.m. today.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is tcarey@miningjournal.net.