Western Livingston County voters have several contested races to decide on in August 4th Primary
By Steve Horton
While early voting in the Michigan Primary started last Saturday, July 25, and mail-in voting began before that, the bulk of eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots this Tuesday, August 4th.
Voters residing in Western Livingston County have several contested races to decide on. Otherwise, the candidates running for their respective party nominations are unopposed.
On the Democratic Party ballot, there are three disputed contests. These include the Michigan Governor’s race with Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson as the candidates, the U.S. Senate race where Abul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens are facing each other, and the 7th Congressional District contest where Bridget Brink, William Lawrence, and Matt Maasdon are vying for the nominaton.
On the Republican Party ballot there is the Governor’s race with John James and Perry Johnson seeking the nomination. Others on the ballot have suspended their campaigns. Locally, there are three candidates seeking the partial term as a trustee on the Howell Township Board that was created by a resignation, The term runs until Nov. 20, 2028. The GOP candidates are John Marhofer II, Jeffrey Smith, and Laura Wilkerson.
Also of local interest is the Livingston County 44th Circuit Court judgeship on the non-partisan ballot. Seeking to fill the six-year term are Andrea Banfield, Christopher Candela, Mark Gatesman, Mary Ellen Hayes, and Kristina Lyke. The top two vote-getters in advance to the November General Election.
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Several millage proposals also on ballot
Voters in Livingston County will also decide on several millage proposals that will be on the August 4th Michigan Primary ballot. These include a countywide proposal to continue funding the Livingston County Veterans Services Program, a renewal of the Village of Fowlerville Mosquito Control Program, a renewal of the 18-mill levy for non-homestead property for the Fowlerville Community Schools as well as the Morrice Area Schools, and a renewal and Headlee Rollback of the Cohoctah Township and Howell Township Road Millages.
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County of Livingston Renewal of the County Veterans Services Program Millage Proposal
For the purpose of continuing to fund dedicated services and programs to Livingston County veterans of active United States military service and their dependents, including providing funding for the County Department of Veterans' Services, shall the constitutional limitation on general ad valorem taxes which may be assessed in any one (1) year upon all property within the County of Livingston, Michigan, be renewed by up to 0.1117 of one (1) mill ($0.1117 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) for a period of six (6) years, from 2028 through 2033, inclusive.
If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $1,600,000 in the first calendar year of the levy. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Howell and the Village of Fowlerville; the Tax Increment Finance Authority of the City of Howell; and the Local Development Finance Authority of the Village of Fowlerville.
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Village of Fowlerville Mosquito Control Program Millage Proposal
For the purpose of reauthorizing funding to continue the Village's Mosquito Control Program, shall the authorized millage of the Village of Fowlerville upon taxable real and tangible personal property within said Village, be increased, and shall the Village be authorized to levy, up to 0.7500 of one (1) mill ($0.7500 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of four (4) years, 2027 through 2030, inclusive?
If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $45,000 for the Village's Mosquito Control Program in the first year of the levy, based on taxable value. As required by law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Fowlerville Downtown Development Authority and Local Development Finance Authority.
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Fowlerville Community Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its full revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 0.5337 mill is only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Fowlerville Community Schools, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee Counties, Michigan, be increased by 18.5337 mills ($18.5337 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2027 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $3,782,870 (this is a renewal of millage that expired with the 2026 tax levy)?
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Cohoctah Township Road Millage Proposal
Shall Cohoctah Township, Livingston County, Michigan, be authorized to levy a millage annually in an amount not to exceed 1.5 mills ($1.50 per each $1,000 of taxable value), of which 1.4677 mills is a renewal of the previously authorized millage that expires in 2026 and .0323 mill is new additional millage to restore the millage rate lost as a result of the Headlee Amendment millage reductions, against all taxable property in the Township for a period of four (4) years, 2027 through 2030, inclusive, for the purpose of constructing, preserving, improving, repairing, controlling dust, and maintaining roads in the Township? The estimate of the revenue the Township will collect in the first year (2027) if the millage is approved and levied by the Township is approximately $259,000.
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Howell Township Road Millage Renewal Proposal
To renew .8976 mill ($.8976 per $1,000 of taxable value) (the previously authorized 1.0 mill levy reduced by the required millage rollback) for the improvement and maintenance of public roads in Howell Township for a period of four years beginning January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2030. Shall the previous limitation on the total amount of taxes that may be assessed against all property in the Township of Howell, County of Livingston, State of Michigan, as provided by Section 6, Article 9, of the Constitution of the State of Michigan, in the amount of 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 per taxable valuation) for a renewal period of four (4) years, commencing January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2030; the proceeds of the levy thereof to be used for the funding of the improvement and maintenance of public roads in the Township of Howell, Livingston County, State of Michigan, which renewal will raise in the first year of such levy an estimated $495,000?
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Morrice Area Schools Operating Millage Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Morrice Area Schools, Shiawassee, Livingston and Ingham Counties, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2027 to 2036, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $497,638?
