MARQUETTE — With the presidential primary coming up on Tuesday, Marquette County voters also have a few local proposals on the ballot to decide on.

Below is a breakdown of each proposal. This includes how each proposal is worded on the official ballot and a brief explanation of what each could mean if approved.

Official ballot language and portions of explanations can be found on the official Marquette County website at co.marquette.mi.us.

Local ballot proposals by area

City of Marquette – senior millage renewal

Ballot language: “Shall the city of Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan be authorized to levy 0.3500 of one mill ($0.35 per $1000) on the taxable value of all real and personal property within the city of Marquette for a period of 5 years (2024-2028 inclusive) in order to provide quality services to Marquette city residents age 60 and older. This millage will generate approximately $258,890 in the first year.”

What this means: The senior millage renewal will allow the city of Marquette to continue to provide services for those 60 years and older through the Marquette Senior Center. If approved, 35 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024-28. This money will be allocated to provide senior citizens with services through the Marquette Senior Center during that time.

City of Negaunee – Amend the city of Negaunee’s codified zoning ordinance

Ballot language: “The Negaunee City Council voted to amend the city of Negaunee’s codified zoning ordinance (Ord. No.:156.031) to rezone an approximate five acre parcel of city-owned property, which is part of Old Town, from a public area zoning district to a residential zoning district. Should the amendment to the zoning ordinance be repealed, reverting the subject parcel back to a public area zoning district?”

What this means: If approved, the zoning ordinance amendment originally voted on by the Negaunee City Council will be repealed, and the five acres of Old Town will be returned to a public area zoning district. Those five acres would no longer be part of a residential zoning district, meaning they would once again be city-owned property and the city could not sell the land to private developers.

If denied, the zoning ordinance amendment will remain in effect, and the five acres of land will remain part of a residential zoning district which could be sold to private developers.

Marquette County – services to senior citizens

Ballot language: “For continuing to provide services to senior citizens, shall the County of Marquette be authorized to levy up to .4474 mill for a period of six years, from 2024-29, inclusive, on all taxable property within Marquette County? The millage will be a renewal of .4431 mill ($0.4431 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property) and an increase of .0043 mill ($0.0043 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property). The millage will raise approximately $1,332,943 in its first year.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette County to continue to provide services to senior citizens by restoring the .4474 mill approved by voters in 2018. If approved, 45 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024-2029. This money will be allocated to provide senior citizen services to those in Marquette County during that time.

Marquette County search and rescue and technical rescue programs

Ballot language: “For the continued operation of Marquette County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and Technical Rescue Unit 131 programs, shall the County of Marquette be authorized to levy up to .1525 mill for a period of six years, from 2024-2029, inclusive, on all taxable property within Marquette County? The millage will be a renewal of .1510 mill ($0.1510 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property) and an increase of .0015 mill ($0.0015 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property). The millage will raise approximately $454,345 in its first year.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette County to continue to provide search and rescue and Technical Rescue Unit 131 programs by restoring the .1525 mills approved by voters in 2018. If approved, 15 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024 to 2029. This money will be allocated to search and rescue and Technical Rescue Unit 131 for them to continue to offer their services in Marquette County during that time.

Marquette County central dispatch/enhanced 9-1-1 emergency telephone system

Ballot language: “For the continued operation of Marquette County Central Dispatch System, including the enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System, shall the County of Marquette be authorized to levy up to .4970 mill for a period of six years, from 2024-2029, inclusive, on all taxable property within Marquette County? The millage will be a renewal of .4923 mill ($0.4923 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property) and an increase of .0047 mill ($0.0047 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property). The millage will raise approximately $1,480,716 in its first year.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette County to continue to operate the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch telephone system by restoring the .4970 mills approved by voters in 2018. If approved, 50 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024 to 2029. This money will be allocated to the Marquette County Central Dispatch/Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency telephone system for it to continue to offer its services in Marquette County during that time.

Marquette County Veterans Affairs Department

Ballot language: “For the continued maintenance of County Department of Veteran Affairs which provides support and assistance to veterans residing in Marquette County, shall the County of Marquette be authorized to levy up to .1000 mill for a period of 10 years, 2024-2033, inclusive, on all taxable property within Marquette County? The millage will be a renewal of 0.0990 mill ($0.0990 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property) and an increase of .0010 mill ($0.0010 per $1,000.00 of taxable value on real and taxable personal property). The millage will raise approximately $297,931 in its first year.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette County to continue to maintain a County Department of Veteran Affairs which provides support and assistance to veterans in Marquette County by restoring the .1000 mill approved by voters in 2014. If approved, 10 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024 to 2033. This money will be allocated to the Marquette County Veterans Affairs Department for it to continue to offer its services in Marquette County during that time.

Marquette Charter Township – fire truck and apparatus replacement millage

Ballot language: “Shall the expired previous voted increase in millage for the Charter Township of Marquette of 0.6 mills ($0.60 per $1,000 of taxable property value), reduced to 0.5880 mills ($0.5880 per $1,000 of taxable property value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 0.6 mills ($0.60 per $1,000 of taxable property value) and levied for six (6) years from 2024 to 2029, both inclusive, for the purpose of replacing aging fire trucks and apparatus? The estimated revenue the Township will collect in the first year, if the millage is levied, is estimated to be $194,393.99.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette Charter Township to replace aging fire trucks and apparatuses by renewing the previously expired .600 millage, which was then reduced to .5880 mills by a required millage rollback. If approved, the original .600 millage will be put in place, so 60 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024 to 2029. This money will be allocated to Marquette Township for it to replace aging fire trucks and apparatuses during that time.

Marquette Charter Township – supplemental Law Enforcement millage proposal

Ballot language: “Shall the expired previous voted increase in millage for the Charter Township of Marquette of 0.4 mills ($0.40 per $1.000 of taxable property value), reduced to 0.3920 mills ($0.3920 per $1,000 of taxable property value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 0.4 mills ($0.40 per $1,000 of taxable property value), and levied for six (6) years from 2024-2029, both inclusive, for the purpose of providing partial payment for the supplemental law enforcement and patrol coverage within Marquette Township over and above those basic services otherwise provided by the Marquette County Sheriff Department, when the current contract with the Marquette County Sheriff Department expires on December 31, 2024? The estimated revenue the Township will collect in the first year, if the millage is levied, is estimated to be $129,596.99.”

What this means: This proposal will allow Marquette Township to provide partial payment for supplemental law enforcement and patrol coverage that goes above and beyond the basic services offered by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department. It asks to renew the previously expired .400 millage, which was then reduced to .3920 mills by a required millage rollback. If approved, the original .400 millage will be put in place, so 40 cents will be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2024 to 2029, following the expiration of the township’s contract with the sheriff’s department on Dec. 31. This money will be allocated to Marquette Township for it to partially pay for supplemental law enforcement and patrol coverage over and above those basic services provided by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department.

Skandia Township – road millage renewal

Ballot language: “Shall the total tax rate limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in the Township of Skandia, County of Marquette, Michigan be continued in the amount of (1) one mil ($1.00 per $1,000 Taxable Value) to be levied for a period of (5) years from 2025-2029 inclusive, for the maintenance and improvement of county roads within the township. (This millage is estimated to generate $32,931.02 in the first year).”

What this means: Proposition to approve the renewal of one mill property tax for a period of five years for the improvement of public roads in Skandia Township. If approved, the one mill will allow $1.00 to be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2025 to 2029. This money will be allocated to Skandia Township for the maintenance and improvement of county roads within the township.

Powell Township – parks and recreation Millage

Ballot language: “Shall the total tax rate limitation, on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Powell Township, Marquette County, Michigan, for the purpose of providing recreational services to the residents of Powell Township, be levied for the period of 5 years, from 2025 to 2029, both inclusive, per Article 9, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution at the rate of 1 mill on each $1,000 of taxable value. This proposal will raise approximately $105,000.00 in its first year, based upon 2023 taxable value.”

What this means: This proposal would approve one new mill of property tax for a period of five years for providing recreational services to the residents of Powell Township. If approved, the one mill will allow $1.00 to be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2025 to 2029. This money will be allocated to Powell Township for the funding and development of recreational services within the township.

Wells Township – road millage

Ballot language: “Shall the voters of Wells Township, Marquette County, Michigan approve the RENEWAL of a levy of 2.97 mills on valuation ($2.97 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) for a period of 8 years to commence in 2025, to be used for road repairs and improvements? (This millage will generate approximately $184,000.00 in the first year.)”

What this means: This proposal would approve the renewal of 2.97 mills property tax for a period of five years for providing road repairs and improvements for Wells Township. If approved, the 2.97 mills will allow $2.97 to be taken out of every $1,000 of real estate and property taxes collected from 2025 to 2029. This money will be allocated to Wells Township for the repair and improvement of roads within the township.