Voters in Marquette County’s Chocolay Township will decide Tuesday on a request for a tax increase to help the police and fire services in the community.
The money from the proposed public safety millage would be used to both maintain current service levels and related capital needs for our Police and Fire-Rescue Departments.
The proposal is for one mill for the next ten years. This equates to $1 for every $1,000 dollar of Taxable Value of your property. For example, a home that’s worth $250,000, purchased in 2025, would have a taxable value of $125,000 because homes are initially assessed at 50% of their market value. 1 mill would equate to $125/year.
If the millage is not passed, it will affect the Police and Fire-Rescue Departments’ ability to continue providing the same range and quality of services that Chocolay Township has provided to residents in the past. Without additional revenue from the proposed millage, Chocolay Township will need to consider reduction of police officer staffing to three officers, which would further result in:
A reduction in hours and shifts covered by our police. o Increased police response times. (if Chocolay Township Police are not available, the Marquette County Sheriff or the Michigan State Police will have to respond; likely coming from much further away and likely delayed by attention to other matters)
A reduction in the range of police services offered. Delaying or foregoing replacement of or updates to aging equipment as needed by both departments. Cuts in optional training in both departments.
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 am until 8 pm.
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