Board approves millage rates for winter taxes

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees on Sept. 9, 2026, unanimously approved the millage rates that will be assessed for the winter 2026 taxes.

The total township millage rate is 3.96 mills, a drop of 0.04 mill from the 4 mills possible due to the Headlee Amendment.

Headlee requires that if the assessed value of a local tax unit’s total taxable property increases by more than the inflation rate, the maximum property tax millage must be reduced so that the local unit’s total taxable property yields the same gross revenue, adjusted for inflation, according to Michigan State University.

The approved rates are 1.0 mill for township operation, 1.48 mills for roads, paths and drains (down from 1.5 mills) and 1.48 mills for the fire department (down from 1.5 mills).

Winter tax bills will be mailed out Dec. 1. Payment will be due Feb. 16, 2027.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the request for dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death/dismemberment and long-term disability for staff members.
• Approved ending longevity benefits for any staff member hired after Jan. 1, 2026.
• Adopted a new fee schedule for rental inspections that creates a $250 registration fee and a $50 renewal fee as well as raising the violation fine from $100 to $1,000. The new rules add a $2,000 penalty for having a rental without a certificate.
• Approved a staff vehicle policy.
• Approved a staff cell phone policy.
• Approved budget amendments for 2026-2027 fiscal year.
• Approved a change in the lighting contract with Consumers Energy.

For details, check out the minutes here.