Millage issues on Tuesday ballot for Laketown

Proposals reallocate millages but do not increase taxes.

Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds Bob Genetski leads election worker training on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road. More than 15 people attended, including four staff members from Laketown Township. The training covered election updates and best practices to assist at elections.

Laketown Township residents will decide several ballot issues in the Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The deadline for clerks to send an absent voter ballot via first class mail is Friday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. The deadline for a registered voter to apply for an absentee ballot in person at the clerk’s office is Monday, Aug. 4 at 4 p.m.  The clerk’s office, in accordance with the requirements of Michigan Election law, will be open on Sunday, Aug. 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for voter registration.

For more information on absentee voting, call Deputy Clerk Zoann Hallam at (616) 335-3050.

As of Tuesday, July 29, a week before the election, about 50 percent of absentee ballots sent out have been returned.

Voters in Precinct 1 (Holland Public Schools) and Precinct 3 (Saugatuck Public Schools) vote at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road. Voters in Precinct 2 (Hamilton Schools) vote at Graafschap Fire Department, 4534 60th St.

What’s on the ballot

All voters in Laketown Township will decide two issues:

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 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.

Voters in Precinct 1 – Holland Public Schools – will help decide a bond proposal authorizing Holland schools to borrow up to $49,225,000.

For the wording on the ballot, visit the Allegan County Elections site here. Go under “Election Documents – General Information” and click on “Ballot Proposals for August 5, 2025 Primary Election.”