Laketown Township property taxpayers pay for a variety of voter approved millages. Most of the property taxes paid – depending on where you live within the township – go toward services like schools, Allegan County, the State of Michigan, Herrick District Library, and the Holland Aquatic Center.

Of the total property taxes collected, only 8-12% stay with Laketown Township. Most of the property taxes collected by the township are directed elsewhere

The two proposals on the Aug. 5 ballot are to re-allocate 3 mills currently dedicated to:

• 2 mills for Fire, Roads, Non-Motorized Paths, and Drains.
• 1 mill for Fire Safety & Emergency Services – Graafschap Fire Department.

If approved, the two proposals will re-allocate the 3 mills over the next five years to:

• 1.5 mills for Roads, Non-Motorized Paths, and Drains for three years.
• 1.5 mills for Fire Safety & Emergency Services – Graafschap Fire Dept. for five years.

A “Yes” vote for both proposals on Aug. 5 would approve the re-allocation of the 3 mills as shown above. The total millage rate does not increase.

A “No” vote impacts each ballot proposal differently.

Because the dedicated millages were approved by voters at different times, with different durations, they have different expiration dates.

• The current millage of 2 mills for Fire, Roads, Non-Motorized Paths, and Drains will expire at the end of 2026.

• The current millage for Fire Safety & Emergency Services – Graafschap Fire

Department has already expired.

• A “No” vote on Proposal 1 (Roads, Non-Motorized Paths, and Drains) is a vote to keep the current 2 mill allocation in place without reducing and re-allocating a portion of it.

• A “No” vote on Proposal 2 (Fire Safety & Emergency Services – Graafschap Fire Department) would eliminate this funding.

The Laketown Township Board voted unanimously in May of 2025 to separate and re-allocate how the 3 mills can be used in the future while ensuring there was no overall millage rate increase. This provides funding stability to the Graafschap Fire Department and increases transparency.