Alcona approves Headlee millage proposal
HARRISVILLE — The Alcona County Board of Commissioners approved a Headlee millage proposal on Wednesday with the option to complete verbiage modifications if needed.
The millage currently reads that Alcona County can continue to levy the rate of 5.25 mills as authorized by voters prior to the Headlee amendment, which restores the millage that has been lost.
The amount of the millage increase requested is 1.0718 mills and that would be the difference between 5.25 and the current number of mills the county has.
Chairman Craig Johnston said the state already has created a system to protect taxpayers, the Headlee rollback of millages, which protects land owners.
“If we’re going to do this, let’s go back in, expose ourselves and continue to allow it to be reduced,” Johnston said. “Otherwise, we’re taking a double whammy.”
If property values rise and if other things increase, Johnston said the 5.25 will be coming down and that’s what the rise and increases in things will do.
“We’re going to get about $4 million with the 5.25,” he said. “If next year or three years from now, 5.25 is going to bring us in $4.5 million and we’re going to lose it and go right back to $4 million, so our millage is going to get reduced. We only bring it that $4 million and that’s going to continue.”
Johnston said the amount is what the county is trying to capture.
Commissioner Adam Brege said the change is going to look like a big change.
“Even though it’s not that big, it’s going to seem big to everyone,” Brege said. “I think we’re in a junction right now that if we don’t do something, there’s going to be some major changes happening.”
If the millage is approved and levied in full, the increases estimated will provide revenues of approximately $750,000 to $800,000.
Julie Goldberg can be reached via email at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.