PAW PAW, Mich. \u2014 Paw Paw Township voters cast their ballots Tuesday, August 4, in the Michigan primary election, delivering a mixed result for local government. Residents rejected a proposed increase to the township's operating millage, but approved renewals for both the senior services millage and the Paw Paw District Library millage.

Operating millage increase rejected

The township's extra-voted operating millage sought to levy 0.2203 mills for 20 years to support general operations in Paw Paw Township. The proposal did not gain sufficient voter support, meaning the township will continue operating under its existing tax structure.

Township officials will now need to work within the current budget framework or revisit the proposal in a future election.

Senior services and library millages renewed

Paw Paw Township voters did approve a renewal of the senior services millage, which seeks to renew and levy 0.4889 mills for four years to fund and provide senior services in the township.

The Paw Paw District Library millage renewal also passed. Voters were asked to renew the library's existing 0.9571 mill tax to fund library operations for 20 years (2027-2046). For homes with a taxable value of $100,000, the cost is approximately $95.71 per year, or less than $8 per month.

"The Library Board and staff are deeply grateful to Paw Paw voters for passing our millage renewal. We are proud of the trust voters have placed in us and remain committed to providing the best possible library service to the Paw Paw community, both now and in the future," the library said in a statement to The Courier-Leader.

County-wide results

Across Van Buren County, voters approved a number of key millage renewals and proposals:

  • Public Safety Millage: Voters approved a renewal of the county public safety millage, which will generate approximately $4.1 million for the sheriff's department in its first year. The renewal levies 0.5332 mills for four years.
  • Ambulance Millage: A renewal of the county ambulance millage was passed, levying 0.9353 mills for four years to fund ambulance services.
  • Conservation District Millage: The Van Buren Conservation District millage was renewed at 0.0989 mills for 10 years.
  • Bloomingdale Township Roads Millage: In a notable result, Bloomingdale Township voters narrowly approved a new roads millage. Bloomingdale was the only township in the county without one. The proposal seeks to levy 2.9 mills for four years.
  • Bangor Township Road Millage: Bangor Township approved a renewal of its road millage at 4 mills for four years.
  • Antwerp Township Senior Services Millage: Approved for renewal at 0.50 mills for four years.
  • Covert Township Older Persons Millage: Passed for renewal at 1.0 mill for four years.
  • Hartford Township Fire Millage: Hartford Township and the city of Hartford both renewed their fire millages.
  • Lawrence Township Millages: The township renewed both its senior services millage (0.50 mills, six years) and roads millage (2.0 mills, six years).
  • South Haven Township Roads Millage: Renewed at 1.45 mills for four years.
  • South Haven Narcotics Millage: The city of South Haven renewed its narcotics millage at 0.70 mills for five years.
  • School Millages: Operating millages and renewals were approved for Decatur Public Schools, Bangor Public Schools, Bloomingdale Public Schools, and Lawton Community Schools.

The election results reflect a community that is supportive of targeted public safety, education, and library funding while exercising caution on broader operational tax increases. Township officials will likely need to address the operating budget gap created by the rejected millage increase in upcoming budget planning sessions.